Description

Cha-cha-cha may be danced to authentic Cuban music, or to Latin Pop or Latin Rock. The music for the international ballroom cha-cha-cha is energetic and with a steady beat. The Cuban cha-cha-chá is more sensual and may involve complex polyrhythms.

Styles of cha-cha-cha dance may differ in the place of the chasse in the rhythmical structure.[7] The original Cuban and the ballroom cha-cha-cha count is "two, three, chachacha" or "four-and-one, two, three". The dance does not start on the first beat of a bar, though it can start with a transfer of weight to the lead's right.[8]

Nevertheless, many social dancers count "one, two, cha-cha-cha" and may find it difficult to make the adjustment to the "correct" timing of the dance.

Basic Dance Steps  

There are two basic movements to the Cha Cha - the Forward Basic Movement and the Back Basic Movement. Variously coupled or combined and often with small variations in body position, these two movements create the Cha Cha moves. A move is loosely defined as any sequence of eight steps. When you combine the two basic movements, they make up the eight steps of the first move, the Forward Basic. 

The Lady facing the man, will perform steps complimenting his. So if the man moves his left foot forward, the lady will move her right foot back and visa versa. This is very sensible. Otherwise, the man would probably tread on her! 

In the Forward Basic Move, the man will perform the Forward Basic Movement, followed by the Back Basic Movement. Whereas, the Lady will do the exact opposite. She will perform the Back Basic Movement, followed by the Forward Basic Movement. 

Another important move is the Back Basic. All the fancy moves originate from it! Basically it is the performance of the Back Basic Movement twice. On the first step, the man steps back onto his left foot mirroring the woman's movements. After completing the first movement, both the man and woman step back. The man needs to push away from the Lady to stop her from stepping forward. 

Back Basic Movement Right, Rock Back, on the 2nd beat of the music.

Slide your Right foot Back and change weight onto the Right leg. Don't move your Left foot! 

Left, Rock Forward. Change weight onto the Left leg. Don't move your Right foot. 

Right, Side and Close. Step forward side-right changing weight onto the Right leg. As you change weight onto the Right leg, drag your Left foot to close. Don't change weight onto the left leg. 

Right, Side. Change weight onto the Left leg, and step the Right foot to the side (side-right) and change weight onto the Right leg. Don't move your Left foot! 

You are now ready to do the forward movement.

Forward Basic Movement Left, Rock Forward, on the 2nd beat of the music. Toe first,

slide your Left foot Forward and change weight onto the Left leg. Don't move your Right foot! 

Right, Rock Back. Change weight onto the Right leg. Don't move your Left foot. 

Left, Side and Close. Step back side-left and change weight on the Left leg. As you change weight onto the Left leg, drag your Right foot to close. Don't change weight onto the right leg yet.Left, Side. Change weight onto the right leg, and step the left foot to the side (side-left) and change weight onto the Left leg. Don't move your Right foot! 

You are now ready to do the back movement.