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Basic Sequence: Cha Cha Cha: Part 7

The first basic sequence.

Please Note: This is a sequel to General: Elixir

The basic sequence needs to be practised until one is able to recognise the individual figures as having individual distinct identities. When this happens you would be able to move as you like, with the mood, the need of the situation and instance.

This page is for the entire Sequence.

Note: The main emphasis here is the GUIDING AND BEING GUIDED and dancing the sequence with a partner.

Hold:
The dance two partners stand facing each other maintaining a comfortable distance between them. Either hold each other by the fingers or by the regular closed hold.

Note: Generally when dancing the Chasse the regular hold is maintained for all the figures in this sequence.

Basic:
Man stands on the Left foot and takes the count of 1 on this foot. Lady does the counterpart, which is that she stands on the Right foot.

Note: Man can start on any foot but the clear indication of his indications must be conveyed to the lady at the start of the dance. For the purpose of teaching and convenience the man starts on his Left foot.

Start to push with both the hands to indicate the lady to move back for the count 2. Immediately after stepping, reverse the direction of guiding for the count 3. After stepping for the count 3 begin to push the lady to the (man’s) left side for the Chasse to follow.

When dancing the Chasse lightly indicate the intention of dancing the New York, which is the following figure to the Basic, by pushing lady’s Right hand lightly with the Left hand, and pulling lightly lady’s Left hand with the Right hand. The Lady should react by resisting the force/guiding so the hold becomes firm.

No significant turns are made by either of the dancers.

New York:
Immediately after the count of 1 of the Chasse of the preceding figure, the man should apply slightly more pressure (the pull and the push as indicated above) such that both the partners will turn to face in the direction of the Chasse. Thus the man will swivel on the Left foot to the left and the lady will swivel on the Right foot to her right side by 90 degrees. When turning release the hold with the Left hand (man) and Right hand (lady). In this position the dancers will be in side-by-side position.

The man should guide the lady forward with the Right hand for the count of 2 and immediately but gently in the opposite direction for the count of 3 for the Rock Action.

Immediately after the step for the count 3, man should guide firmly with the Right hand in the curving motion so as to turn the lady to her left so the both the partners are once again facing and square to one another.

Come into the normal hols without rushing when performing the Chasse. Also when dancing this Chasse start the preparation for the next figure. Spot Turn, by building tension in the arms, a push force with the Right hand (man) and Left hand (lady) and simultaneously the pull force with the Left hand (man) and Right hand (lady). This tension should help man to give sufficient advance notice of his intention of movement to the lady.

The lady should lightly maintain a steady resistance to all mans guiding-intentions but at the same time not to prevent man from his intentions.

Spot Turn:
Immediately after the count of 1 of the Chasse of the preceding figure, New York, the man should apply slightly more pressure (the pull and the push as indicated above) such that both the partners will turn to face in the direction of the Chasse. Thus the man will swivel on the Right foot to the right and the lady will swivel on the Left foot to her left side by 90 degrees. When turning release the hold with the Right hand (man) and Left hand (lady). In this position the dancers will be in side-by-side position.

For the count 2, guide the lady with the Left hand (man) by pulling her Right hand to move forward and immediately after the stepping push the lady away so as to make her turn to her left. Man should release the hold, Left hand (man) and Right hand (lady), to facilitate a complete turn for both the dancers.

After the stepping for the count of 3, resume hold with the Right hand (man) and Left hand (lady). The man pulls/guides the lady by pulling in the direction of the step for the count 3 gently and simultaneously turn the hand (man) counter clock-wise to turn the assist the lady to turn. The turn is gradual and distributed over the three steps of the Chasse.

When dancing the Chasse lightly indicate the intention of dancing the Hand to Hand, which is the following figure, by pushing lady’s Left hand lightly with the Right hand, and pulling lightly lady’s Right hand with the Left hand. The Lady should react by resisting the force/guiding so the hold becomes firm.

Hand to Hand:
Immediately after the count of 1 of the Chasse of the preceding figure, the man should apply slightly more pressure (the pull and the push as indicated above) such that both the partners will turn to back in the direction of the Chasse. Thus the man will swivel on the Left foot to the right and the lady will swivel on the Right foot to her left side by 90 degrees. When turning release the hold with the right hand (man) and left hand (lady). In this position the dancers will be in side-by-side position.

Man now will pull/guide the lady with his Left hand to make her move backwards, and immediately after stepping change the direction of guiding for the count 3, which is Rock Action. And after stepping for the count 3, keep guiding the lady as earlier and in addition turn the Left hand in the clockwise direction to assist the lady’s turn.

When dancing the Chasse resume the regular hold and start to build the tension in the arms for the next figure, 2 & 3 (The Three Cha Cha Chas); push force with the Right Hand (man) and the Left hand (lady), and the pull force with the Left hand (man) and the Right hand (lady).

2 & 3 (Three Cha Cha Chas)
Immediately after the count of 1 of the Chasse of the preceding figure, Hand to Hand, the man should apply slightly more pressure (the pull and the push as indicated above) such that both the partners will turn to come into promenade position. Thus the man will swivel on the Right foot to the right and the lady will swivel on the Left foot to her left side by 45 degrees. When turning do not release the hold with either of the hands.

Give a gentle but firm guiding with both the hands and maintain this force steady over the three steps. This steady force makes the lady do the Chasse for the counts 2, &, 3.

For the Chasse the man starts to guide the lady to turn by the pull force with Right hand (man) and Left hand (lady) and the push force with the Left hand (man) and Right hand (lady).

The sequence now can be repeated using the similar force with the particular hand/arm for the figures given above but starting on the other foot.

Note: Dancing the various figures in the particular sequence given should give a better idea of the flow in this dance.