Cha-Cha Dance Types

Music

• Cha-cha is easily recognizable by its catchy rhythm -- one, two, cha cha cha. Cha-cha is composed in 4/4 time, which means four beats to every bar and has a split fourth beat. For each bar of music there are two slow and three fast beats. However, cha-cha is very versatile and you can dance to it to almost any type of music, ranging from traditional Latin music to club music to pop music.

Action

• The cha-cha movement comes from the distinctive Cuban style of hip movement known as the "Cuban motion." This simply refers to the way the hips move up and down. As one leg straightens the knee of the other leg is bent and vice versa. Small quick steps are maintained throughout the dance with the hips movement driving the motion. The dancers must synchronize their hip movement as they perform the dance.

  .

Steps

• The steps in all directions are taken first with the ball of the foot contacting the ground and then the heel lowering when the full weight is transferred. When the weight is being released the heel should release first, with the toe maintaining contact with the ground. The first step is taken on the second beat of the bar, the second step on the third beat and the fourth beat is split in two.

Styles

• There are different styles of cha-cha and some advanced cha-cha proponents push the boundaries of the dance by breaking the established cha-cha steps and movements. The original cha-cha derived from Cuban mambo dancing and is still practiced in Cuba, whereas the international style or ballroom adaptation is more widely practiced throughout the world. Americans have a different style, where the men step backwards on beat two while the ladies step forward.