International Cha Cha I
Mixed Newcomer Pre-bronze and Bronze (Student) International Cha Cha
Who It's For:
- beginning social dancers and social dancers who might sometime be interested in keen amateur or performance/competitive Latin dancing
What We'll Be Teaching:
- the essential basics of Pre-Bronze Level International-Style Cha Cha, including
- BASIC MOVEMENT* with slow left figure rotation (to use everywhere including on small dance floors)
- NEW YORKER and HAND-TO-HAND* (to add style)
- FAN* and HOCKEY STICK* (to add class);
- ALEMANA* (to add variety)
- THREE CHA CHAS forward and backward (to introduce flair and the Latin walk)
*based on USISTD International Standard syllabus.
Why We Think This Is A Particularly Good Introductory Dance Course:
- the International Cha Cha is danced similarly throughout the world including Hawaii;
- Cha Cha incorporates Cuban Motion which is used in International Rumba, Cha Cha and Jive.
- when completed, students should have a good foundation for International-Style Latin-American dancing; and
- using the basics presented in this course, go dancing!
General Structure of the Lessons:
- warm-up exercise useful to social, keen amateur, performance and competitive dancers alike;
- introduction of seven basic figures over the seven weeks;
- practice time
- dance as couples under the watchful eyes of both male and female instructors;
- dance individually with a male or female instructor;
- dance with partner; meet new partner
What's So Special About International Cha Cha?
- History: Cha Cha (a flirtatious dance in 4/4 time danced at 32-34 bars per minute) is said to have come from Rumba (a dance of romance and love in 4/4 time danced at a slower 28-31 bars per minute).
- Count: While Basic Rumba has has six steps stepped on the 2-3-4 beat (the 1 beat amounting to a relaxation of the standing hip), what makes Cha Cha "flirtatious" is that it has ten steps danced on the 2-3-4-&-1. The steps can be counted aloud as "2-3-Cha-Cha-1" OR "2-3-Cha-Cha-Cha" (depending on your preference and point-of-view). During our 7-week session we will generally refer to and emphasize the "Cha-Cha-Cha" count.
- The "Cha-Cha-Cha" portion is sometimes called the Cha-Cha Chasse and is danced ball-flat with a complete change of weight on each step. However, an alternative is to incorporate a sliding, "locking action." This alternative Chasse is danced forward "ball-flat - ball - ball-flat" and backward "ball - ball-flat - ball."
- Footwork: Like International Rumba, International Cha-Cha is generally danced "ball-flat"
- Rhythm: QQQ&Q (except for the Three Cha Cha's figure, which is Q&Q-Q&Q-Q&Q).
- Hold is basic Latin hold either closed or open (we'll begin with closed facing position but do both).
- "Master's Moment" before closing, introducing key techniques for better dancing such as better
- posture and frame
- Cuban motion ("merengue" action used in Cha Cha on full "Q" beats)
- connection and movement
Special Resources
- Practice Music - Classic (Slow) Cha-Cha
- "Latin Cha Cha - You Will Never Stop 18 Non-Stop"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo_KNzmeR3Q
- "Latin Cha Cha Non Stop Instrumental" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNtqEiLCNy4
- You-Tube Reviews
- International Cha-Cha (select American and International videos with which to review and practice)
- A Basic Cha-Cha Routine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJLlbS6FWek
- New Yorker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qdgVB_6oQo
- Hand-to-Hand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SUMCEah7_8
- Fan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NqiKBaEzx4
- Hockey Stick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neo9tX0ZRaU
- Alemana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1u90gt5SdY
- Three Cha Chas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rzpn5udbqk
- [Alternative Basic (International Style Basic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmNm_OAnmdk]