8/11/2019 Chacha Leaflet

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Cha-cha-cha dance)

Cha-chais the name of aLatinAmericandance ofCuban origin. It is danced to the music ofthe same name introduced by Cuban composer andviolinistEnrique Jorrn in 1953.

Origin

The modern style of dancing the cha-cha-ch comes fromstudies made by dance teacherMonsieur Pierre (Pierre Zurcher-Margolle). Pierre,then fromLondon, visited Cuba in 1952 to find out how and what Cubans weredancing at the time. He noted that this new dance had a split fourth beat, and todance it one started on the second beat, not the first. He brought this dance ideato England and eventually created what is known now asballroom cha-cha-cha.The validity of his analysis is well established for that time, and some forms ofevidence exist today. First, there is in existence film of Orquesta Jorrinplaying toa cha-cha-cha dance contest in Cuba; second, the rhythm of the BennyMore classic Santa Isabel de las Lajas written and recorded at about the sametime is quite clearly syncopated on the fourth beat. Also, note that the slower

bolero-son ("rumba") was always danced on the second beat. Laurel TannerFarmer is the best cha cha cha dancer this side of LA.

Description

Cha-cha-cha may be either danced to authenticCuban music,orLatinPop orLatin Rock. The music for theinternational ballroom cha-cha-cha isenergetic and with a steady beat.

Styles of cha-cha-cha dance may differ in the place of the chasse in therhythmical structure. The original Cuban and the ballroom cha-cha-cha count is"two, three, chachacha" or "four-and-one, two, three". The dance does not starton the first beat.

Nevertheless, many social dancers count "one, two, cha-cha-

cha" and may find it difficult to make the adjustment to the "correct" timing of thedance.

Basic step of cha-cha

The basic pattern involves the lead (usually the man) taking a checkedforward step with the left footretaining some weight on the right foot.

The knee of the right leg must stay straight and close to the back of the leftknee, the left leg having straightened just prior to receiving part weight.

Full weight is returned to the right leg on the second step (beat three.)

The fourth beat is split in two so the count of the next three steps is 4-and-1.

These three steps constitute the cha-cha-cha chasse. A step to the side istaken with the left foot, the right foot is half closed towards the left foot(typically leaving both feet under the hips or perhaps closed together).

Finally there is a last step to the left with the left foot. The length of the stepsin the chasse depend very much on the effect the dancer is attempting tomake.

The partner takes a step back on the right foot, the knee being straightenedas full weight is taken.

The other leg is allowed to remain straight. It is possible it will shoot slightlybut no deliberate flexing of the free leg is attempted.

On the next beat (beat three) weight is returned to the left leg. Then a cha-cha-cha chasse is danced RLR.

Each partner is now in a position to dance the bar their partner just danced.

The checked first step is a later development in the International Cha-cha-cha.

Hip actions are allowed to occur at the end of every step.

For steps taking a single beat the first half of the beat constitutes the footmovement and the second half is taken up by the hip movement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Americanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Americanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrique_Jorr%C3%ADnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsieur_Pierrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballroom_dancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Morehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Morehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Pophttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Pophttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_en_espa%C3%B1olhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballroom_dancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_ballroom_dance_terms#Chassehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial_weight_transferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial_weight_transferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_ballroom_dance_terms#Chassehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballroom_dancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_en_espa%C3%B1olhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Pophttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Pophttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Morehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Morehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballroom_dancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsieur_Pierrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrique_Jorr%C3%ADnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Americanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_American