How to Teach a Child to Cha Cha

The cha-cha is a ballroom dance style that gained popularity in 1954. The cha-cha is danced to a lively but steady beat that really gets the heart pumping. If you or the child are new to ballroom dancing, the cha-cha may be perfect for you since it is among the simplest ballroom dance styles.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Play music for the child that has a cha-cha beat. Use traditional Latin music or, if you want something a little more hip, choose a current Latin Pop or Latin Rock song.

2. Encourage the child to move freely to cha-cha music and don't be afraid to get silly right along with her. It's not that important in the beginning to concentrate on exact steps. Instead, let the child have fun familiarizing herself with the music and beat.

3. Familiarize the child with the feeling of dancing with a partner by holding hands occasionally while the two of you playfully bop around to cha-cha music.

4. Watch videos of professional cha-cha dancers doing their thing and loosely emulate those steps with the child.

5. Teach the child the basic cha-cha dance movement which many beginners count as slow, slow, quick-quick, slow. (See "How to Cha-Cha," under Related eHows.)

6. Call ballroom dance studios in your area and ask whether they offer children's classes. Don't forget to ask about adult classes, as well--it can't hurt to brush-up on your own cha-cha technique.