How to Sign up for Cha Cha

Saucy, flirtatious and fun, the cha cha dance brings back memories of parties and beach bashes, Latin style. Up-tempo music and pronounced leg action make it a lively spectacle for the audience and a great workout for dancers. This Cuban import was popularized in the American dance clubs of the 1950s and is still a hit favorite today. Sign up for cha cha and get up for a good time.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Build Your Basics

1. Count Latin rhythms "by heart" before you add the steps. When you can count the beat without thinking about it, you're ready to sign up and dance.

2. Learn the sidesteps and breaks of cha cha by using a video, such as "Cool and Classy Cha Cha" at Amazon (see Resources below). You'll hit the dance floor running when you sign up for lessons, and you can use the DVD for practice sessions at home too.

3. Work on your Cuban motion for great hip-shaking cha cha. As the steps demand that you shift weight from foot to foot, raise your heel on the "up." Your toes will look like they are pressing into the floor, or grinding out a cigarette. This motion will cause your hips to grind.

Sign up and Cha Cha

4. Find instructor referrals at nightclubs, dance studios and through friends. Choose a class that is challenging but not too advanced.

5. Choose a class that is challenging but not too advanced.

6. Budget practice time into your week when you sign up for lessons. Buy a CD of cha cha tunes to move your feet to, such as "Ballroom Latin Dance" at Amazon (see Resources below). Find a partner, or practice isolated steps or flexibility exercises.

Tips & Warnings

• Cha cha builds on rumba timing by substituting a triple step for the final "slow" step of rumba.
• The sexy sidestep and return are marks of the cha cha.
• This energetic dance is a fantastic workout and can burn major calories.
• This dance can be hard on the knee, hip and ankle joints. The key is to make the weight changes on the balls of the feet rather than stepping up or down with every beat.

Resources

• Music to dance to
• Visual aids in cha cha how-to
• Clear and easy beginner instruction DVD