Dancing Basics

As the name implies, freestyle dancing leaves the dancer free to move in any way desired. As such, there are no required or structured movements that must be learned. Furthermore, in many...

From weddings to birthdays to proms, the cha cha slide dance has become a favorite for getting even the most timid person on his feet. An updated version of the electric slide, the cha cha slide...

The Cha-Cha Slide is a line dance created by Mr. C, also known as Casper, a Chicago DJ. The dance was originally designed as a workout for Bally's Total Fitness. The steps are called out during...

Head spotting originated in ballet, though it has made its way as a basic technique in all dance forms from hip hop to ballroom. It is a very important technique to learn early on and can make any...

Begin by watching the pros in action. The TV show "Dancing with the Stars" is a great primer on the steps and turns that are fundamental to almost any dance form. Films such as "Dirty Dancing,"...

The Cha-Cha, also known as the Cha-Cha-Cha, is a very popular ballroom dance that belongs to the Latin dance style. The name "Cha-Cha" derives from the beat of the rhythm of music that...

The cross body lead in Cha Cha is a fantastic step to add to your repertoire early on. It will be an "evergreen" pattern that you can utilize for the rest of your dancing career,...

Hip action is a very important part of the Cha Cha, or any Latin Ballroom dance, for that matter. A mastery of the hips will not only allow you to move correctly and display the patterns, but you...

The Cha Cha is a dance filled with staccato beats and hits, and often many refer to the body motion found throughout the dance as a "tick" (more in terms of the sound or its relation to...

This pattern is one of those "evergreen" basics that will always be part of any routine. That's true whether it's social or competitive. It can be done to the left or to the right, and it can also...

The American Cha Cha is a cheeky little dance that is great for social venues anywhere you go. It is much easier to learn compared to its sister, the International Cha, and the patterns do not...

The twist lock to the right, like it's sister the twist lock to the left, is a great technique you can utilize in your Cha Cha back locks to enhance the overall look and feel of the pattern. It is...

Footwork is always the first thing you learn in any dance and lays the foundation for the movement you are about to do. The American Cha Cha, although not nearly as complex as her foreign sister...

Hips are one of the defining features of a woman in dance, and it is a crucial element in dancing a good Cha Cha. The Cha Cha is a cheeky, fun dance and the Lady should know how to play off of her...

The 3 step turn to the right is slightly rarer than its sister to the left. However, it is still a necessary basic to practice so that you are a well rounded dancer. It can be an exciting pattern...

The three-step turn to the right is less commonly seen than its sister to the left, yet it is still an important component of good dancing. You must be able to turn equally well on both sides, and...

Arm styling is crucial to spice up your dancing once you have gotten the footwork under control. Although it is not as emphasized for men as it is for ladies, arm styling can still be a...

The twist lock is a relatively new and very exciting technique that can be applied to your Cha Cha dancing to really give it some attitude. The traditional back lock, once mastered, is not as...

Arm styling is crucial to any routine once you have the feet figured out, and nowhere is it more important than the lady's part. Below is a description of arm styling for the lady in the following...

Bronze level American Cha Cha is a great level for both social and competitive dancing. Not having too many complex patterns, most steps are much easier to lead and follow, as well as perfect and...

The right underarm turn, or reverse turn, is a rarer pattern than its sister the underarm turn, or alemana. Although it is not seen as much in traditional choreography or social dancing routines,...

The American Cha Cha is a great social dance you can expect to be doing quite often, and a Basic Bronze level routine will take you far in any venue. Below is a description of the specific...

The alemana is a very popular basic technique utilized in International Latin dancing and can be seen in the Rhumba and Cha Cha, with most frequency being exhibited in the former. Overall it is a...

The lock step is a crucial component of dancing the Cha Cha regardless of whether your interest is social or competitive. Because it allows forward and back movement on the chasse rhythm of the...

The famed Rumba walk is one of the most widely practiced basics in any studio. Although some can get carried away with the technique, emphasizing its practice for hours upon hours per week, there...

International Cha Cha differs from American Cha Cha in that it is designed more for a competitive atmosphere rather than a social one. Thus, the patterns are more difficult to master and require a...

Half turns are pivots that take you from facing the front to the back. Then you do the second half turn when you pivot back in the same direction you just came from. This vibrant dance takes up...

The cha-cha is a traditional Latin dance that's grown in popularity since it's debut in New York City in the mid-1900s. The turn is such an intricate part of the cha-cha dance that doing a bad...

The cha-cha is a traditional Latin dance that migrated from Cuba with Cuban immigrants in the early 1900s. This dance, however, is not an old-fashioned one. The cha-cha transcends generations...

Like so many Latin dances, the cha-cha has its origins in Cuba. It is a more formal dance than some of the other Latin dances.