How to Do Basic Steps in Cha-Cha Dancing

To learn the cha-cha, you should first practice the dance pattern alone, stepping forward and back, but essentially dancing in one place. The next step is to learn to move left and right while maintaining the same pattern. Although this can also be practiced alone, it's helpful to practice with a partner before moving on to more complicated dance steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

The Man's Part

1. Face the woman and place your right hand on her side just below her left shoulder. Hold her right hand in your left hand, lifting it high.

2. Step forward on your left foot on count 2.

3. Briefly lift your right foot, then set it down in the same place on count 3.

4. Take a step back and to the left with your left foot. Bring your right foot beside it, then step to the left again. This is the cha-cha-cha and is done on counts 4 and 1.

5. Step back on your right foot.

6. Briefly lift your left foot, then set it down in the same place.

7. Take a step forward and to the right with your right foot. Bring your left foot beside it, then step to the left again for the cha-cha-cha.

The Woman's Part

8. Face the man and place your left hand on his right arm at the shoulder. Hold his left hand in your right, lifting it high.

9. Step back on your right foot on count 2.

10. Briefly lift your left foot and set it down again in the same place on count 3.

11. Take a step forward and to the right with your right foot. Bring your left foot beside it, then step to the right again. This is a cha-cha-cha and is done on counts 4 and 1.

12. Step forward on your left foot.

13. Briefly lift your right foot and set it down again in the same place.

14. Take a step back and to the left with your left foot. Bring your right foot beside it, then step to the left again for the cha-cha-cha.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to always start dancing on count 2 and count "2, 3, cha-cha-cha" or "slow, slow, slow-fast-slow." Five steps are taken in four beats.
• Once you've learned this dance pattern, you can vary Step 4 to turn slightly and move yourself and your partner across the dance floor.