Description

The Cha Cha is a vibrant, flamboyant and playful dance. The light and bubbly feel of the Cha Cha gives it a unique sense of fun for dancers throughout the world. The Cha Cha requires small steps and lots of hip motion (Cuban motion), as it is danced in 4/4 time.

The fourth beat is split into two, giving it the characteristic 2,3,4 & 1 rhythm. Therefore, five steps are danced to four beats as in the "One, two, cha cha cha" rhythm.

Also called the Cha Cha Cha, this unmistakable dance originated in Cuba in the 1940s. Composer and violinist Enrique Jorrin developed the dance as a variant of the Mambo and Rumba. The name is onomatopoeic, derived from the sound of dancers' shoes as they shuffled around the floor.

Because of the carefree nature of the Cha Cha, its music should produce a happy, party-like atmosphere, with a tempo of 110 to 130 beats per minute. Cha Cha is often danced to authentic Cuban music, but is popular in all music genres, including country, funk, and hip hop.

Age Category

Adult