Valerie J. Pennington

Cha-Cha

Maxim Kozhevnikov & Yulia Zagoruychenko

Cha-Cha Origins

The name of this dance is said to have come from the sound of sandals slapping against the floor in the Cha-Cha chassé.

Cha-Cha is a dance of Cuban origin, corresponding to the music introduced by Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrin.  The rhythm evolved from the Danzon by a syncopation of the fourth beat - the addition of a triple step that replaces the slow step in the Danzon (and Mambo/Rumba). 

A famous dance teacher from London, Pierre Zurcher Margolie, visited Cuba in 1952 to study local dance.  He noted that this new dance had a split 4th beat, and to dance it one started on the second beat, not the first. He brought this dance idea to England and eventually created what is known now as the ballroom version of Cha-Cha. 

Presently there are two flavors of Cha Cha, differing by the place of the Cha-Cha with respect to the musical bar: 

• Ballroom Cha-Cha and the street Cha-Cha use the Cuban count "two, three, four-and one"
• Country western Cha-Cha and street Cha-Cha in many areas outside of Cuba count "one, two, three-and four"

Cha Cha music is energetic and with a steady 4/4 beat.

Before Cha-Cha:  El Danzon

Musical and Dance Performance:  Danzon en Cuba

The beginning of this Danzon exhibition is very Rumba-like (actualy, the American Rhythm Rumba is based on the Danzon box basic).  Then, at 2:53, the tempo increases and you can see more moves that were later incorporated into Cha-Cha once the musicians began syncopating the rhythm.

The Cha-Cha Rhythm

Musical performance:  Tony Danger sings in Havana

And now you can clearly hear the Cha-Cha rhythm.  Count it:  one, two, three, four-and one." 

Cuban Cha-Cha

Musical and dance performance:  Cuban Cha-Cha

Angel Santos with Reyna dancing Cha Cha in Cuba.

Modern International Cha-Cha

Dance performance:  Modern Cha-Cha (International Latin Professional Competition)

Yulia Zagoruychenko and Ricardo Cocchi - THE couple to watch this year.  This is their competitive Cha-Cha routine.  Watch the speed, the sharpness, the contrasts between movement and sudden, dramatic pauses.  This is modern Cha-Cha at it's best... fun, flirty, sexy and ripe with power and energy.