How to Do a Basic Ronde Chasse in Cha Cha
The ronde chasse is a popular chasse in the International Latin Cha Cha and is utilized by many people in both social and competitive situations. It is a very aesthetic basic pattern and is very characteristic of the dance, though one of the more difficult of the seven basic chasses to perform due to its more complicated weight transfers and its longer timing. Although most chasses occur within the "4 and 1" beats of the Cha Cha, the ronde chasse generally involves an entire measure to accomplish.
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Instructions
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Ronde With the Right Leg
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1
Begin with left foot forward, weight completely transferred onto it. Right foot should be placed behind you in a straight line and pointed on the inside edge.
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2
On beat "2," take a step forward with your right leg as if doing a forward break.
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3
Recover on beat "3" to your left leg. Here you must simultaneously ronde your right leg as your weight transfers back to your left leg. You may think of a "rug getting pulled out from under you" as the feeling that is associated with your right foot releasing quickly into a ronde as your weight transfers to your left foot. The weight transfer between beats "2" and "3" is therefore much faster than a traditional forward break.
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4
Your ronde must travel in a circular path and end with your foot placed onto the ball behind you on beat "4." The ending position will result in a check action where your left leg is bent and your right leg is straight. The knee of your left leg will be connected to the back of your right knee. As you ronde you must transfer weight from your left leg onto your right leg, so as to achieve the ending position of a true checking action where your weight is primarily supported by your right leg.
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5
Because your weight is supported primarily by your right leg, you are now able to collect your feet without falling. On beat "and" move your left leg to your right with both balls of the feet holding your weight as this point.
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6
Using your now contracted left leg, push with the ball towards your right and assume full weight over your right leg.
Ronde With the Left Leg
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7
Commence with weight over right leg and left leg pointed to the side on the inside edge.
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8
Perform a forward break with the left leg on beat "2" and recover to the right on beat "3." Simultaneously perform a ronde with the left leg as you recover to the right. End the ronde by placing your left leg behind you in a bent position to absorb the weight of your body.
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9
Collect your feet on beat "and."
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10
Exit on beat "1" to your left by pushing with your right foot.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Remember, all chasses in Cha Cha come in pairs. Practice one and you will understand the other more easily.
Always practice slowly before going at full speed.
Resources
- Photo Credit discomania.ro
