Basic Steps of Latin Dance Cha Cha Cha
The steps of Cha Cha Cha are originated from jazz, the 1st beat moves the hips and the 2nd beat moves the feet, which is similar to Rumba. In the overall dance behavior prompt attention to the waist and hips twist. Here is what I bring is the basic steps of the Latin dance cha-cha-cha, I hope it will help you.
This article is mainly about the rhythm of the Latin dance cha cha. The cha cha dance was first imitated the penguin walking form, which is very interesting. The basic elements of its dance steps, absorbed a lot of rumba elements, their waist and hip movements are very similar, and the cha cha due to the fast pace of the dance, and the need to extend the action to shorten the time, so its center of gravity than the rumba is relatively a little higher. Each bar of cha-cha-cha is also four beats, but it needs to take five steps, and there is a half-beat accent between the last beat, i.e., the fourth beat, and the first beat, which creates a cha-cha-cha-cha with three subdivisions of the accent. Not only is the number of beats per minute more than the rumba, but the dance divides the rhythm into one more step, so the cha-cha-cha is a dance that brings joy and pleasure, but it also brings difficulty in mastering the accurate rhythm.
For this reason, in most of our basic exercises, we count the beats as 2-3-4-1 or 2-3-cha-cha-cha-cha, that is to say, we start a step with the second beat of each bar of the music. In complex steps, the first two beats may need to be divided into two half-beats each, i.e., they need to be counted as 2 - 3 - cha-cha-cha-cha, 2 - 3 - cha-cha-cha-cha or 2 - 3 - cha-cha-cha-cha-cha, or the rhythm becomes cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha.
In a standard cha-cha-cha, there is a more defined rhythm, the heavy-heavy-sub-heavy-sub-heavy-heavy beat, as described above. If a less standard dance tune is chosen for the cha-cha, then several pairs of beats are required. If a 2/4 beat, i.e., heavy-light-heavy-light, is chosen when the beat is light, then one chooses to start a pace on the second light beat, which is why the counting of the beats needs to start at 2 when practicing; this is in accordance with the rhythm of the music, and not in accordance with the `pace' at which the dancers begin to move. And it is necessary to divide this rhythm into two half-beats on the fourth beat, together with the first heavy beat of the next bar, to form a cha-cha-cha-cha rhythm.
So when dancing you should develop a good habit of mentally counting the beats, so that by practicing continuously for some time, you will be able to follow the right beat as an instinctive response of the body.
The rhythm of the cha-cha-cha is practiced from the diagonal front to the side. The basic 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 it can be danced in a compact and sharp pace. It has a very important foot movement, with the ball of the foot collapsing up and the instep topping out when there is no center of gravity after the step up.
Cuban Break Step
Preparatory movements: center of gravity on the right foot, left foot open.
Step 1, step up diagonally in front of your left foot, turn your toes outward, center of gravity between your feet, heel of your right leg behind you off the ground, knee close to your left foot, with a reverse motion.
Step 2, right foot in place for center of gravity right foot. ? Step 3, left foot back.
Change direction and step up with your right foot diagonally in front of you and do the same.
Rhythm and counting beats: cha-cha ONE, cha-cha ONE.
Upper body movement: as you step up with your left foot, press your right hand on your belly and extend your left hand.
When the right foot steps up, the left hand presses the abdomen and the right hand extends.
You can also contract one hand and extend the other.
Important note:
The rhythm of the Cuban Break is not the same as the Time Step, but is a straight "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 work together. 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's hard to learn the movement.
New York Step
The 1st step of the New York Step has the weight completely on the lead leg, with the center of gravity between the two feet, forming a half center of gravity, and a 1/16th outward opening on the step up.
Pre-step: center of gravity on the right foot, open the left foot to form a paw on the ground with the instep collapsing straight.
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 with the palm facing down.
Step 2, change the center of gravity with the right foot in place.
Step 3, come back with your left foot and turn 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 ball of the foot on the ground, with the instep collapsing.
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: when going up to the left foot, extend the left hand forward, open the right hand diagonally in front of the right, pay attention to the shoulders behind you and press down, lift your head up, 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, one 1/4 turn to the right, and then back to center.
These 6 moves can be danced together when skillful. At the end, you can do a modeling action. As above, cross the body with the left foot, turn 180° to the right, extend the right hand to the upper right with the palm facing down, press the left hand to the abdomen, and lunge with the right foot.
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