The cha-cha-cha-cha dance steps are derived from jazz, moving the hips on beat 1 and the feet on beat 2, and have similarities to rumba. Cue attention to the twisting of the waist and hips in the overall dance behavior.
The cha-cha-cha is an exercise in the rhythm of the hips, from diagonal front to side. The basic dance steps always maintain the center of gravity that characterizes the jazz step, i.e., the center of gravity is on the leg that is straight, so that a compact and sharp step can be danced. Its foot movement is very important. When there is no center of gravity after the step, the foot collapses up and the instep tops up. Preparatory movements: center of gravity on the left foot, open the right foot. You can also put the right foot back, with the foot on the ground and the instep collapsing straight.
Step 1, bring the right foot back to the left foot, palms on the ground to switch weight to the full foot.
Step 2, place your left foot in place and land on the ball of your foot to change your center of gravity to the full ball of your foot.
Step 3, right foot to the right, full paw.
Step 4, left foot and to the right, full paw.
Step 5, right foot continues to move to the right, left foot opens in place, paws on the ground, instep collapses.
Switch feet and do the same.
Rhythm and counting beats: 1 beat, 1 beat, half a beat, half a beat, 1 beat. (TWO THREE cha-cha-cha ONE).
Upper body movements: when moving the right foot, contract the left hand and extend the right hand. The reverse is the same.
Important: Hip movement from diagonal front to side.
When the right foot is retracted in step 1, the knee should be diagonally opposite the toe of the left foot.
When the left foot changes its center of gravity in place in step 2, the knee should also be facing the toe of the right foot. Prep move: weight on the right foot and open the left foot.
Step 1, step up diagonally in front of your left foot, turn your toes outward, center of gravity between the two feet, the heel of the right leg behind you leaves the ground, and your knee is close to your left foot, with a countermovement.
Step 2, right foot in place for center of gravity right foot.
Step 3, left foot back.
Change direction, step up with right foot diagonally in front and do the same.
Rhythm and counting beat: cha-cha-ONE, cha-cha-ONE.
Upper body movement: as you step up with the left foot, press the right hand on the belly and extend the left hand.
When the right foot steps up, the left hand presses the abdomen and the right hand extends.
Or you can contract one hand and extend the other.
Important note:
The rhythm of the Cuban Break Step is not the same as that of the Time Step, but is a straight "cha-cha-cha-ONE". What must be emphasized in learning this movement is that when stepping up, the thighs are clenched, the center of gravity is between the legs, and there is a countermovement, where the body and the feet are in opposite directions, and the upper body and the feet need to be coordinated. When the right shoulder is forward, out comes the left foot, and when the left shoulder is forward, out comes the right foot. The knee of the back foot must be against the back knee of the front foot. Otherwise, it is difficult to learn this movement. Preparatory movements: right foot weight, left foot open.
Step 1, upper left foot.
Step 2, change weight on right foot in place.
Step 3, back off left foot and cross right foot in front.
Step 4, step back right foot and cross left foot in front.
Step 5, back left foot, cross right foot in front.
Step 6, step back right foot.
Step 7, change weight with left foot in place.
Step 8, up right foot, cross left foot behind.
Step 9, up left foot, right foot crossed behind.
Step 10, up right foot, left foot crossed behind.
Rhythm and counting beats: 1 beat, 1 beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat, half a beat. (TWO THREE cha-cha-cha ONE cha-cha-cha ONE cha-cha-cha ONE TWO THREE cha-cha-cha ONE cha-cha-cha ONE).
Upper body movement: retreat the left foot, contract the right hand, extend the left hand.
On the right foot, contract the left hand and extend the right hand.
Or you can press your belly with one hand and extend with the other.
Important note:
Lock step movements are large and fluid. It is a major feature of the cha-cha-cha, which is to play a role in connecting and exchanging footwork from left to right between dance steps. Thus enhancing the artistry of the dance, the knees are exposed when jumping, forming a Latin cross posture. Preparatory movements: center of gravity on the right foot, open the left foot.
Step 1, left foot crosses the body and steps up to the right, leaving the head.
Step 2, right foot pushes up in place for a 180° right turn on the axis, when the center of gravity is between the two feet.
Step 3, step back with your right foot. Turn right 180°.
Step 4, left foot and to the right foot.
Step 5, move your right foot to the right, open your left foot, switch to your right foot and do the same.
Rhythm and counting beats: 1 beat, 1 beat, half a beat, half a beat, 1 beat. (TWO THREE cha-cha-cha ONE).
Upper body movement: when going up to the left foot, contract the right hand, extend the left hand, and use the right hand contraction to turn the body.
Important note:
The fixed-point turn turns a full circle, so one foot is not moving, fixed on the ground. To which direction to turn, you have to turn back to this direction, *** 360 °, do two turns to complete this action, once turned 180 °, the center of gravity in the two feet between the rotation, once after 2 beats jumping parallel step when turned 180 °, with the hand to drive and stay head is an important part of the rotation.
The difficult movements of Latin dance are difficult to rotate, and a good Latin dancer must have good rotating ability. The 1st step of the New York step has the center of gravity completely on the lead leg, and the center of gravity is between the two feet, forming a half center of gravity, with a 1/16th outward opening on the step up.
Preparatory movement: center of gravity on the right foot, open the left foot to form a plantar foot landing with the instep collapsing straight.
In step 1, turn the upper left foot 90° to the right, lean the right knee against the left knee, and open the right hand upward, palm facing down.
Step 2, shift your weight in place with your right foot.
Step 3, left foot comes back and turns 90° left.
Step 4, right foot in step with left foot.
In step 5, the left foot continues to move to the left, and the right foot opens up to form a paw-on-the-ground, with the instep collapsing straight.
Switch to step up with your right foot and do the same.
Rhythm and counting: 1 beat, 1 beat, half a beat, half a beat, 1 beat. (TWO THREE cha-cha-cha ONE)
Upper body movement: as you step up on the left foot, extend the left hand forward and open the right hand diagonally forward to the right, paying attention to the shoulders behind you, keeping your head up and your palms facing down. When the left foot comes back, the hand extended forward can be fished over with force.
The New York step has three directions of turn, one 1/4 turn to the left and one 1/4 turn to the right, then back to center.
These six moves can be danced together when you are skillful. At the end, you can do a modeling move. As above, left foot crosses the body, turn right 180°, right hand extends to the upper right, palm facing down, left hand presses belly, right foot lunge. Preparatory movement: weight on the right foot, left foot forward on the palm of the ground.
Step 1, right foot forward.
Step 2, left foot forward.
Alternate in this order.
Rhythm and counting: 1 beat, 1 beat. (TWO THREE FOUR ONE).
Upper body movement: up right foot, left hand contracted, right hand extended.
Up left foot, right hand contracted, left hand extended.
Important note: the upward step is propelled forward by the back foot, and as you propel forward, rotate your hips at the same time. Preparatory movements: center of gravity on the right foot, open the left foot.
Step 1, left foot crosses the body and turns right 90° to the right front side.
Step 2, right foot to the right side.
Step 3, left foot back.
Step 4, right foot to back right 90°.
Step 5, left foot to the side.
Step 6, right foot forward.
Rhythm and counting beats: half beat, half beat, 1 beat, half beat, half beat, half beat, 1 beat (TWO AND THREE FOUR AND ONE TWO AND THREE FOUR AND ONE).
Upper body movements: contraction and extension.
Important note:
Don't be too busy moving the center of gravity to the back on steps 3 and 6, but go slow and have a delay. The center of gravity is pressed on the lead leg. Dance this move without too much flow and turn your foot around. This is one of the best ways to practice the rhythm of the cha-cha; there is no foot movement, just a shift of the center of gravity between the two feet.
Preparatory movement: center of gravity on the right foot, left foot open.
Step 1, left foot in place.
Step 2, right foot in place.
Step 3, left foot in place.
Step 4, right foot in place.
Step 5, left foot in place.
Do the same with the other foot.
Rhythm and counting beats: 1 beat, 1 beat, half beat, half beat, 1 beat. (TWO THREE cha-cha-cha ONE).
Foot Exercises: When changing weight, go from the ball of the foot to the full foot, with the knee inward, clenching the inside and closing inward. Try to reflect the long, languid line of the leg.
When you are skilled, you can change the rhythm: TWO AND THREE FOUR AND ONE.
Important note: you can practice with 1 step and 1 beat, but pay attention to tighten the abdomen, hips quickly in place, keep breathing, effectively exercise the waist and abdomen, and achieve the requirement of slimming.