​GROUP 3

Garcia, Nicole Andrea

Genove, Zakiya Jeziel O.
Hernandez, Franches Grantuza
Hernandez, Nicole Marie
Jimenez, Gerald
Lanuza, Maria Ana
Llamoso, Christian
GROUP 3
DEFINITION AND VIDEO DIFFERENT STYLES /
CHARACTERISTICS PRESENTATION BASIC STEPS

CHA CHA HISTORY TIPS ON LEARNING CHA-CHA

WHAT IS BALLROOM
DANCING?
Ballroom dancing is a partnership dance
where couples, using step-patterns, move
rhythmically, expressing the characteristics
of music. Ballroom dancing consists of two
styles: the Smooth, or Standard, and the
Rhythm, or Latin.
 
DEFINITION OF
CHA-CHA-CHA
The Cha-Cha is a lively and fun dance that really
gets you moving on the dance floor. Quite similar
to the Rumba and Mambo, Cha-Cha took the
slower steps of both dance and added a triple step.
The Cha-Cha has become a must learn for
beginning dance students. Throughout the years
gaining popularity due to its simplicity and energy.
 CHARACTERISTICS
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. 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 rhythm
of 2, 3, 4 and 1. Therefore, five steps are danced
to four beats. You may have heard it counted like,
"One, two, cha-cha-cha." 

No matter the style of Cha-Cha you choose the basic dance steps remain the same:

 With your left foot forward, slide and shift your weight to the left foot. While keeping the right foot still in its
place.
 Now shift weight onto your right foot
 Place weight back to the left foot, slide left
Source: https://youtu.be/e1xYD2rIT_A
CHA CHA HISTORY
Cha Cha originated from Cuba and evolved from a
slow version of Mambo called ‘Triple Mambo” or
Manmbo with guiro rhythm. This musical rhythm
inspired dancers to dance a hip syncopation to the
forward and back breaks of a mambo which later
evolved to a triple step.
CHA CHA HISTORY
ENRIQUE JORRIN
Mambo evolved from a fusion of danzon,
son and American jazz. Danzon has its
origins from Europe (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 the dancers' shoes made
when they dance to this type of music.
CHA CHA HISTORY
In 1952, Pierre Lavelle, an english dance teacher visited
Cuba and saw dancers dancing this triple step to slow
rumba and mambo music. When he returned to Britain, he
taught this as a separate dance and it has since evolved to
Ballroom Cha Cha.

2 years after(1954), Cha Cha was introduced to the US,

which replaced mambo as the latest dance craze. After the
introduction, the traditional violins and flutes were
exchanged with big band instruments such as trumpets,
trombones and saxophones.
DIFFERENT STYLES OF
CHA CHA DANCE IN
BALLROOM
INTERNATIONAL LATIN STYLE CHA-CHA

American rhythm uses a cuban-style bent

knee/ leg action (also called merengue
step). The International Latin style is highly
competitive across the entire world, and
has involved into an extremely fast-paced,
athletic style of dance.
AMERICAN RHYTHM CHA-CHA

Uses a more formal, balletic straight knee action in

its basic steps. American Rhythm evolved from
social dancing and is now a fully recognized
competitive style of dance. The Rhythm style
consists of Cha-Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing,
Bolero and Mambo.
BASIC CHA-CHA STEPS
BASIC STEP FOR MEN

1. Sidestep to the left with your left foot

2. Step backward & left with your right foot
3. Left foot in place, weight shifts to it
4. Sidestep to the right with your right foot
5. Move your left foot to your right foot
6. Sidestep to the right with your right foot
7. Step forward & right with your left foot
8. Right foot in place, weight shifts to it
9. Sidestep to the left with your left foot
10.Move your right foot to your left foot
BASIC CHA-CHA STEPS
BASIC STEP FOR WOMEN

1. Sidestep to the right with your right foot

2. Step forward & right with your left foot
3. Right foot in place, weight shifts to it
4. Sidestep to the left with your left foot
5. Move your right foot to your left foot
6. Sidestep to the right with your left foot
7. Step backward & left with your right foot
8. Left foot in place, weight shifts to it
9. Sidestep to the right with your right foot
10. Move your left foot to your right foot
1 2 3 4
 Tips on learning cha-
cha
2 3 4
1
TIP #1
“Learning never
exhausts the mind.”
L e a r n m o r e
 Tips on learning cha-
cha
1 3 4
2
TIP #2
RIGHT BEAT OF THE
MUSIC
L e a r n m o r e
 Tips on learning cha-
cha
1 2 4
3
TIP #3
CUBAN MOTION
Step 1: Loosen Up by Bending and
Straightening the Knees
Step 2: Add Stepping Action to the
Bending Action
Step 3: Make Distinct Steps Using Ball-
Flat Footwork
Step 4: Add Contra-Body Action
Step 5: Put it all together
Step 6: The Most Important: Practice

L e a r n m o r e
 Tips on learning cha-
cha
1 2 3
4
TIP #4
REMEMBER THAT it’s not
the moves you do but how
you move that’s really
important

L e a r n m o r e
THANK YOU!