How to Cha-Cha

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.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dance Floors
• Breath Fresheners
• Let's Dance CD
• Cha Cha Video
• Cha Cha, Merengue, Salsa Hits CD

Leading

1. Stand opposite your partner.

2. Place your right hand high on your partner's back, under her shoulder blade.

3. Extend your left hand to chest height with your elbow bent and your palm raised.

4. Grasp your partner's right hand in a loose grip.

5. Listen to the rhythm of the music when it begins.

6. Step to the left and slightly backward with your left foot.

7. Step back with your right foot, rocking up on your left foot as you do so.

8. Step forward with your right.

9. Bring your left foot into your right and close your feet together.

10. Step to the right and slightly forward with your right foot.

11. Step forward with your left foot, rocking up on your right heel as you do so.

12. Step back with your right foot.

13. Step to the left with your left foot and bring your right foot in to close the step.

14. Repeat.

Following

15. Follow the leader.

16. Place your left hand on your partner's shoulder.

17. Place your right hand in your partner's outstretched hand.

18. Step forward when your partner steps back.

19. Step back when your partner steps forward.

20. Mirror your partner's moves as he makes his steps.

Tips & Warnings

• Cha-cha music is composed in 4/4 time. The rhythm is "slow slow quick quick slow." Dancing to each bar of music will take two slow steps, two quick steps, then one slow step. Count your steps as "step step cha-cha step" or "two three four and one."
• Keep your upper body stiff and most of the movement concentrated in the pelvis and hips.
• Don't move your hips in a Latin swish until you can do the basic steps.

on 8/8/2006 I may have been taught a different type of cha-cha, but the way I was taught is:

Beat one: left step forward
Beat two: rockstep back on the right (feet stay where they are, but step slightly in place with the right foot)
Beat three: step back with left foot, then step a little back with right foot
Beat four: step a little back with left foot.

Then, repeat it all, but left and right foot switched, and directions switched (right back, rockstep left, right forward, left forward a little, right forward a little).