HISTORICAL

BACKGROUND OF TANGO,
CHA CHA CHA AND WALTZ
TANGO
/ tang-go/
 is one of the most influential and famous dances of
the modern history, originating from the streets of
18th century Buenos Aires in Argentina and
Montevideo in Uruguay
 favorite dance of the European immigrants, former
slaves, working and lower classes of people. The
quick rise in its popularity enabled this famous dance
to quickly expand out of South America, becoming a
commonplace in Europe, North America and the rest
of the world.
 the words “ tango” and “tambo” started being
used for naming dance and musical gatherings
of slaves in the region of the basin of River
Plata. As this term started gaining popularity, it
quickly became a synonym for the entire tango
dance and tango music style.
 with the rich history, numerous types and

styles, and incredible appeal, tango

dance remains one of the most popular dances
in the entire world.
 Types of Tango Dance
 Argentine Tango
The development of Tango as we know it today started in
the mid-1800s after Argentina undergone massive
immigration. A mix of the people from Africa, Spain, Italy,
England, Poland, Russia and native-born Argentinean created
a very potent cultural mix that soon started forming new
traditions and a new way of life. One of those newly created
things came from the mix of European minuet dances, polkas
and many African influences that brought rhythms and
instruments that formed Tango, a dance that very quickly
became very popular in the poor neighborhood of Buenos
Aires in the late 1880s where it was known as “music of the
immigrants”.
 North American Tango

 Tango was well-received in the United States where

a brand new style of this dance was also developed.
Named as “North American Tango”, this type of
dance features faster tempos and uses 2/4 or 4/4
rhythms such as one-step. Usually, it is not even
danced to the tunes of traditional tango music
and can be enjoyed with other popular music styles.
Today, traditional tango and North American tango
are both well established and can be danced
separately with their own firm dancing rules.
 Uruguayan Tango

 After the rise of tango popularity in the

1880s, Uruguay became one of the oldest places where
tango was adopted and danced in public . Originally
morphed in Montevideo from the influences of Buenos
Aires Tango and various black music and dance styles,
it eventually moved from the dance halls of slaves, ex-
slaves, lower classes, working classes and even
gangsters to the dance and theatre halls of Montevideo
and other Uruguayan cities.
 Finnish Tango

 Tango arrived in Finland in 1913 by traveling

musicians , where it immediately found great
popularity that enabled it to not only stay but morph
into a brand new form of Finish tango that has
several differences from traditional Argentine or
Ballroom tango styles. The defining characteristic of
Finnish tango is reliance on minor keys, which
closely follows the style and conventions of their
folklore music, with lyrics being focused on the
themes of sorrow, love, nature, and countryside.
 Steps in Tango

Tango is danced in a closed position, usually closer

than in other dances. The man's left hand is holding
the lady's right hand. His right hand is placed on
her back, along the bottom of her ribcage. The
lady's left hand is placed on his right shoulder. You
always bent your knees. Remember, this dance is
the most bent of all the ballroom dances. 
Basic Steps
for Men

•Step forward with your left

foot
•Step forward with your right
foot passing the left foot
•Step forward again with your
left foot this time
passing the right foot
•Step forward and to the right
with your right foot
•Left foot close to right foot
Basic Steps for
Woman

•Step back with your right

foot
•Step back with your left
foot passing the right foot
•Step back again with your
right foot this time
passing the left foot
•Step back and to the left
with your left foot
•Right foot close to left foot
 History of the Cha Cha Dance
 The cha-cha dance originated from Cuba and was
originally known as the cha-cha-cha. The dance
gained popularity around the 1950's and was created
from two other dances – the 'mambo' and the
'danzon'. While working with the charanga group
'Orquesta America' in Cuba  performed at dance halls
in Havana. Enrique Jorrin, a violinist and composer,
realized that most of the crowds related the danzon-
mambo rhythm to a much slower mambo dance and
thus had hardship adopting the syncopated rhythms.
 He decided to compose music that strongly focused
on the first downbeat such that the rhythm became
less syncopated. This caused the crowd dancers to
develop a triple step, creating the sound 'cha-cha-
cha' with their shoes, thus the cha-cha-cha was
born.
 Cha Cha Cha in the United
States
 The dance was introduced in the United States
around 1954 and had apparently gained so much
popularity among American's by 1959 that it was
reported to be the most popular dance in the country.
It remains as one of the most popular Latin dances
in the U.S. today. Enrique and his team in Orquesta
America released two of his new compositions in
the year 1953, the 'La Enganadora' and the 'Silver
Star'. These two hit-songs became the very first cha-
cha-cha compositions to be recorded in Cuba.
Steps in Cha Cha Cha
Basic Side Step for Men

Partners face each other. Gentleman starts

with the left foot, lady starts with the right
foot. Basic ballroom hold.

•Sidestep to the left with your left foot

•Step backward & left with your right
foot
•Left foot in place, weight shifts to it
•Sidestep to the right with your right
foot
•Move your left foot to your right foot
•Sidestep to the right with your right
foot
•Step forward & right with your left
foot
•Right foot in place, weight shifts to it
•Sidestep to the left with your left foot
•Move your right foot to your left foot
Basic Side Step for Women
•Sidestep to the right with your right
foot
•Step forward & right with your left
foot
•Right foot in place, weight shifts to it
•Sidestep to the left with your left foot
•Move your right foot to your left foot
•Sidestep to the right with your left
foot
•Step backward & left with your right
foot
•Left foot in place, weight shifts to it
•Sidestep to the right with your right
foot
•Move your left foot to your right foot
 History of Waltz

 It was derived from an Old German word “walzen”

meaning to turn, roll, or to guide.
 It was born in the suburbs of Vienna and in the
Alpine Regions of Austria.
 It is progressive dance written in 3 time signatures.
 Steps in Waltz
Waltz Left Foot Change
Man's foot position
Man's Steps
1. Step forward with the LF.
2. Step forward with the RF so that
right foot is parallel to left foot.
3. Bring the LF to the RF.
4. Step back with the RF.
5. Step back with the LF so that
the left foot is parallel to right
foot.
6. Bring the RF to the LF.
Waltz dance step - Left foot change
Woman's Steps
1. Step back with the RF.
2. Step back with the LF so that the left foot is parallel
to right foot.
3. Bring the RF to the LF.
4. Step forward with the LF.
5. Step forward with the RF so that right foot is parallel
to left foot.
6. Bring the LF to the RF.
 Waltz Right Foot Change
Man's foot position
Man's Steps
1. Step forward with the RF.
2. Step forward with the LF so that
right foot is parallel to left foot.
3. Bring the RF to the LF.
4. Step back with the LF.
5. Step back with the RF so that the
left foot is parallel to right foot.
6. Bring the LF to the RF
Waltz step - Right foot change
Waltz Forward Progressive
Man's foot position(left foot change and
right foot change)

Waltz step - forward

progressive
Man's foot position

Waltz Box Step or Left Box

Step
Waltz Left/Right Turn
Man's foot position
Waltz Whisk
Man's Foot Position
Thank You for
DANCING 