What is the Cha Cha?

The cha cha, cha-cha, or chachacha is a popular Latin dance that originated in the 1940s and early 1950s as a response to the mambo dance craze. Enrique Jorrn, the leader of the popular band Orchestra America, is credited with inventing the mambo-inspired rhythm that spawned the dance.

Jorrn may have been influenced a form of the dance known as the mambo-rumba, which was already popular in Cuba. The cha cha rhythm, on the other hand, is thought to have originated with the use of bells or maracas to define the chachacha aspect of the count.

The most straightforward steps are based on slower music in 4/4 Common Time. On beats one and two, the first two steps are slow. The cha cha action is then performed in three staccato steps, with the first on three, the second on the half beat of three, and the third on four. Slow steps allow for a certain amount of hip undulation, especially in more traditional Latin music. The steps are usually close together, making the quick step easier to produce and redirecting back to the slow step.

In more advanced forms of the cha cha, the slow count may begin on 2 and end on 1, providing a nice counter-beat to the music. The two counts are used in both ballroom and Cuban cha cha, while the one count is used in country western cha cha.

The cha cha had surpassed the mambo in popularity in America the late 1950s. It was quickly added to the Latin Dance competition ballroom dance repertoire as well. The modern ballroom version is danced to much faster music, which removes some of the elements that made the dance popular in the first place. Faster music prevents hip undulation and thus reduces the sensuality of the dance.

While the basic cha cha steps are simple to learn, the transitions, turns, and tricks can be challenging. The many DVDs that teach basic elements of ballroom dancing can help most people master a few steps. These can be found on the internet in abundance. There are also some free websites dedicated to the dance’s steps.

Advanced footwork is best learned in a classroom setting, where a teacher can correct errors and position. The most common error made new learners is taking too large chachacha steps. These steps must be small, light, and spaced closely.