How to Dance Cha Cha

Do you want to know how to dance Cha Cha?

The Cha Cha is one of the most iconic dances in the world, thanks to its own unique rhythm; one, two, cha, cha, cha.

It’s one of the easiest Latin dances to learn thanks to the mastery of such an easily attributable rhythm.

Yet another dance originating from Cuba, it is one of the younger dances that does have influences from other dances.

Cha Cha is one of the only Latin dances to have an easily accessible history.

How to Dance Cha Cha

There’s no hear-say or stories as to why the dance exists, but rather an actual epicenter. It was developed by the Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrin in the mid-1950s.

You may think that because of the faster rhythm, the Cha Cha must be a difficult dance to learn. This is a wrong assumption, as the Cha Cha is one of the easiest Latin dances that anyone can learn.

History of Cha Cha

Cha Cha originated in Cuba and evolved from a slow version of Mambo called “Triple Mambo”, which in itself became the two-step Salsa.

The rhythm was quicker than most Latin dances and became something of a challenge that Latinos in the 1960s took with both hands.

It soon turned into the simple dance we know and love today, making it extremely accessible to people of any dance prowess.

The Mambo dance evolved from a fusion of Danzon, Son, and American Jazz from the dancehalls of the 1950s. Danzon has its origins from European chamber music and African/Haitian drum rhythms.

Enrique Jorrin, a Cuban Violinist created the first Cha Cha song in 1948.

He named it after the shuffling sound of the dancers’ shoes, meaning that the Cha Cha is an onomatopoeic dance term

In 1952, an English dance teacher Pierre Lavelle visited Cuba and saw dancers dancing this triple step to slow rumba and mambo music.

On his return to Britain, he taught this as a separate dance and it has since evolved to Ballroom Cha Cha.

The Ballroom Cha Cha is often the type associated with dancing shows on TV.

Cha Cha was introduced to the US in 1954 and replaced mambo as the latest dance craze.

After its introduction to the US, the traditional violins and flutes were exchanged with big band instruments such as trumpets, trombones, and saxophones.

This was easy for the Americans as Jazz was huge in the 50s. Jazz is often attributed to the Cha Cha in the west, and this is the reason why.

How to Dance Cha Cha Cha

The music to the cha-cha usually follows a “slow-slow-quick-quick-quick” kind of beat, though not always.

The dance is almost always fast, and the form is not rigid – the hips roll as the dancers move together, and while the dance does start in the formal “dance frame”:

(lead’s right hand at the follow’s mid-back, follow’s left hand on the leads upper arm, and both of them loosely clasping their other hands together) there are a lot of points where that position is “broken” temporarily.

Cha Cha Steps List

See how the Cha Cha is performed each step of the way below:

• The lead steps forward with the left foot, letting the body weight rock forward through the hips.
• Lead’s weight shifts back to the right foot, again letting the hips roll in time.
• The lead sidesteps to the left with the left foot, moving it only about six inches.
• The right foot follows, coming alongside the left in a near-shuffle step.
• The lead does another sidestep to the left with the left foot, identical to step three.
• The lead rocks backward again, stepping slightly to the left with the right foot.
• Since the left foot stayed in place, the lead rolls their weight back to it (again with the hip motion).
• Lead does the shuffle step forward and to the right, this time with the right foot, again about six inches.
• The lead’s left foot comes next to the right.
• Sidestep to the right once more, shifting weight, and the lead is ready to start with step one again.

Because the two rocking steps and the shuffle steps mimic the slow-slow, quick-quick-quick beat of the Cha Cha music, the count is often “One-two-cha-cha-cha.”

However, technically the dance starts with the rock backward by the lead, meaning that the dance would start on the “two” beat, not on the “one”.

Famous Cha Cha Songs

Once you’ve mastered your Cha Cha steps, it’s time to familiarize yourself with the most prominent Cha Cha jams.

See these world-famous Cha Cha songs below:

• Chilly Cha Cha – Jessica Jay
• El Diablo Anda Suelto – Rey Ruiz
• Dimelo – Marc Anthony
• Rie Y Llora – Celia Cruz
• Sway – Michael Buble

With these soundtracks, you shouldn’t have any trouble impressing your friends and family once you get started.

Dance Cha Cha Guide

The Cha Cha is one of the easiest dances that anyone can learn if they have the stamina to handle it!

It’s a fun dance that can brighten an afternoon and has many instructors teaching it. Try it out for yourself and master the rhythm.

📌 Like this article? Pin it…

“Dear friend! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot and helps me to keep traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”