CHA-CHA

There are various theories as

to the etymological origin of
Cha-cha. It could have been
derived from the Spanish
Chacha meaning nursemaid,
or chachar meaning to chew
coca leaves (Smith, 1971), or
from meaning char meaning
tea (Taylor, 1958), or most
likely from the fast and
cheerful Cuban dance, the
Guaracha (Ellfeldt, 1974).

This dance has been

popular in Europe from before
the turn of the century. In fact,
it is listed in the program if the
Finishing Assembly in 1898 of Dancie Neill at Coupar
Angus in Scotland (Hood, 1980).

In 1954, the dance was described as Mambo with a

guiro rhythm. A guiro is a musical instrument consisting of
a dried gourd rubbed by a serrated stick (Burchfield, 1976).

The Mambo originated in Haiti, and was introduced to

the West in 1948 by Prado (Burchfield, 1976). The word
Mambo is the name of a Voodoo priestess in the religion
brought by the Negroes from Africa (Ellfeldt, 1974). Thus,
the Cha-cha had its origins in the religious ritual dances of
West Africa. There are three forms of Mambo: single,
double and triple. The triple has five steps in a bar, and this
is the version that evolved into the Cha cha (Rust, 1969);
(Sadie, 1980).

Originally known
as the Cha-cha-cha,
Cha-cha is an
offshoot of the
Mambo. In the slow
Mambo tempo, there
was a distinct sound
in the music that
people began
dancing to, calling the step the Triple Mambo. Eventually, it
evolved into a separate dance, known today as the Cha-
cha.

The dance consists of three quick steps (triple steps of

cha-cha) and two slower steps on the beat.

The Cha-cha-cha is a Cuban Dance, based on the

Rumba and the Cuban dancers take the forward or leading
step off the second beat of the bar of music.

The hold is on Open Hold and Fan Position.

Footwork is the same as in Rumba, steps being taken
on the ball of the foot immediately lowering to the flat foot.

Cha-cha is passionate, energetic, lively and flirtatious.