Jai Chavan's "Dance-Sport" Email : [email protected] Or General Mailer

General Notes: Cha Cha Cha

The counts of "Cha, Cha" can be replaced with "4, &". Note: ‘&’ is pronounced as ‘And’.

The Cha Cha Cha is quite a popular dance, probably only next to Jive, in the Latin American section; as the music’s tempo is medium paced and has clearly accented beats.

The music is easily distinguishable with its melodic notes invariably played short or staccato. The music is usually 4/4 time, but sometimes 2/4 as well, and the ideal tempo is 32 to 36 bars per minute, although the Cha Cha Cha music often quicker than this. One more thing to note in majority of such music is the use of either or both the sounds: a) Cow bells – Long hollow brass bells that go ‘tong tong tong’. And b) Stiff broom on a kettledrum instead of the regular drumsticks.

This dance is almost like the Rumba. The forward or the backward step is on the count of ‘2’. The most convenient way to count the rhythm for this dance is "1, 2, 3, Cha, Cha, 1, 2, 3, Cha, Cha, 1…"

The correct way to start the dance would be to stand with the feet slightly apart and weight on the Right foot for Man. For the count of ‘1’ shift the hip a little more to the right, without any movement in the feet. Then move the Left foot forward for the count of ‘2’. The lady would be doing the normal opposite of man’s movement.

Hint: One may still come across some people doing "1, 2, Cha, Cha, Cha" when the stepping forward or back is on the count of ‘1’ or ‘2’. In such cases use the count ‘step, step, Cha, Cha, Cha’. This would help one to dance comfortably with such other people without confusing ones self of the rhythm or undoing the correct pattern learned.

All the steps use the Cuban action, which is ball-flat pattern. Step with pressure on the ball first, and use the action of "stubbing out a cigarette but". Thus, every step is with pressure on the ball of the foot with the knees flexed. As the weight shifts on the foot the heel lowers, the knee straightens. The knee of the opposite foot flexes and the heel lifts from the floor gradually. The hip moves softly sideways in the direction of the stepping foot. This hip movement is the natural reaction to the stepping.

Hold is as described in the Hold Master, and the guiding is with both the hands.