Ballroom Dance: Cha Cha Style

Questions and Answers

Ballroom Dance is a type of social dancing originally practiced in Europe and the United States, performed by couples and follows prescribed ______.

steps

The Cha Cha grew out of the Cuban ______ and became immensely popular in the United States in the 1950's.

Mambo

Cha Cha consists of triple chasse steps (cha cha cha's) and ______ steps.

rock

Enrique Jorrin, a Cuban Violinist, created the first cha cha song in ______.

1948 Signup and view all the answers

Cha Cha was introduced to the US in ______, which replaced mambo as the latest dance craze.

1954 Signup and view all the answers

Cha Cha is typically danced during the ______ counts of the music with emphasis on count 1.

4&1 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Overview of Ballroom Dance

A type of social dance that emerged in Europe and the U.S.
Typically performed by couples with defined steps.
Distinct from folk or country dance due to its ties with elite social classes and formal dance events.

Cha Cha Dance

A vibrant and playful dance that evolved from Cuban Mambo, gaining popularity in the U.S. during the 1950s.
Characterized by triple chasse steps known as "cha cha cha" and rock steps.
Incorporates a modified Cuban Motion hip action, enhancing speed and energy.

History of Cha Cha

Originated in Cuba from a slower version of mambo called "Triple Mambo."
Evolved by adding hip syncopation to the mambo's forward and back breaks, leading to the formation of the triple step.
In 1948, Cuban violinist Enrique Jorrin created the first cha cha song inspired by the shuffling sounds of dancers.
English teacher Pierre Lavelle introduced the dance to Britain after observing Cuban dancers, evolving it into Ballroom Cha Cha upon his return.
Made its U.S. debut in 1954, replacing mambo as the favorite dance trend.

Timing & Rhythm

Non-progressive dance that highlights Cuban motion, primarily recognized by the cha-cha-cha chasses.
Danced on the 4&1 counts of music, emphasizing the "1" count.
Time signature is 4/4 with a tempo of 30 measures per minute.
Common timing noted as 1234 with a beat distribution of 1-1-1-1/2-1/2.

Basic Steps of Cha Cha

Step left with the left foot to initiate the dance.
Perform a backward step and leftward with the right foot.
Shift weight to the left foot while keeping it in place.
Move to the right by stepping with the right foot.
Bring the left foot to meet the right.
Sidestep right with the right foot.
Step forward and slightly to the right with the left foot.
Shift weight to the right foot while keeping it in place.
Sidestep left again with the left foot.
Finally, bring the right foot together with the left foot.

Description

Explore the exciting world of Ballroom Dance with a focus on the lively Cha Cha. This quiz covers its origins, characteristics, and the fun proven steps that make this style popular in social dance circles. Test your knowledge about this vibrant dance form that originated from the Cuban Mambo and flourished in the 1950s.