Cha-Cha
The
name cha-cha is most likely to come from the fast and cheerful cuban dance “the Guaracha” This dance was most popular in Europe before
the 20th century around 1898.
Il
has also been suggested that the name cha-cha was derived from the sound
of the feet make in the chasse, that is why some call it the cha cha
cha.
The
Cha-cha originated from the dance called the mambo from Haiti and introduced to
the West in 1948 by Prado, the word “Mambo” is the name of a voodoo
priestess in the religion brought by the Africans.
The
Cha-cha originated from a religious ritual dance of West Africa, there
are 3 mambo forms single, double and triple, the triple with 5 steps to
a bar evolved into the Cha-cha of today. In 1952 teacher Pierre
Lavelle visited Cuba and realised that sometimes the Rumba was danced
with extra beats. After returning home, he started teaching these steps as
a new dance.
The Cha-cha is
currently danced at about 120 beats per min., the steps are taken on the
beat, with hip movement as the knees straighten between beats, the
weight is kept forward with foreward steps taken Toe-flat, the chasse on
4&1 is used to emphasise the step on beat 1, which is usually held
longer than other counts to match the music.
The Cha-cha is
probably the most popular social latin dance in North America, because of
its infectious rythm. The rythmical “split beat” of the cha-cha and
many opened movements add to its dancing style.
|
