The Cha-Cha-Cha is still the most popular of all the Latin dances. A Cuban  dance popularized  in the 1950s, it is an outgrowth of the Rumba and the Mambo, which were both too difficult for the average social dancer.

MUSIC AND TIMING
     Cha-Cha-Cha music is easily distinguishable from the melodic notes which are invariably short and staccato. The music is usually in 4/4 time, sometimes 2/4, with an ideal tempo of 32 bars per minute.
     The Cha-Cha-Cha’s basic rhythm pattern is composed of a series of four rhythm units:  double, triple, double, triple.
      Just like in the other Latin dances, Rumba, Mambo and Samba, the Cuban dancers take the leading step off the second beat of the musical phrase, on the up-beat. Cha-Cha-Cha “breaks on 2”, that is, the first step is made on Count 2.
     In the Philippines, "break on 2" is erroneously called "offbeat" by many obviously amateur DIs. But most are able to properly do it using the following technique:

The Man starts with his weight on his left foot (Lady on the right foot). On Count 1, he steps right with his Right Foot, and forward with his Left Foot on Count 2.

OR

The Man starts with his weight of his left foot, shifts weight in place to the right foot on Count 1, and forward on Count 2.

    But the Dance Addicts (Rene and Vikky) handle the break more subtly.

Pick up  the end of a phrase of 8 counts -- “five six seven eight”. Lift your center point of balance (CPB) on Count 1 and sway. Change weight to make the first step of the pattern on Count 2 (whether it's a step forward for the man or a step in place).

     The pattern consists of eight beats, but by starting on Count 2, you will be counting “2  3 - 4&5 - 6   7 - 8&1”. The Man breaks forward on Count 2 and he breaks back on Count 6.
     Many dancers step forward on the first beat of the music. This is quite all right for the beginner. However, the “break on 2” is the only acceptable count for the formal ballroom events elsewhere in the world. It also fits better to Cha Cha Cha music.
     To quote Rocki Mar, one of the all-time great American Mambo dancers, “If you can’t dance Cha-Cha-Cha on the “two beat”, don’t bother dancing Cha-Cha-Cha at all!”

THE HOLD
     The Cha-Cha-Cha is danced with a partner, whether they hold hands  or not.
     The basic hold consists of the Closed Hold, though the partners are farther apart. The man’s left arm is held a little higher than in the standard ballroom dances:  the left hand should be about on a level with the top of his left ear. The lady places her left hand on his right  shoulder and the couple dance slightly apart in most basic figures.
     Other advanced figures free the partners from each  other as they do “challenge or echo” patterns. The patterns  feature the partners alternating sequences, like carrying on a conversation, and was a  “popular sport” in the 50s. Both partners should be aware of each other’s dancing level to be effective for the “challenge”.

FOOTWORK
     The correct start for the dance is to stand with the feet slightly apart with the man’s weight on his right foot. On count 1,  he lifts his CPB, and on  count 2, he steps forward with his left foot. The woman does the natural opposite.
      The steps are taken on the ball of the foot immediately lowering to the flat and sole, if the Side Basic is used.
      With the Progressive or Basic, the Cha-Cha-Cha steps (“4&5” and  “8&1”) are done completely on the sole of the feet pressed to the floor. See Body Flight in Chapter 6. Moving back, the left foot steps back  on the sole in straight 4th position. The right foot chassés to the right foot  (5th) but the heel lifted above the sole of the right  foot. The left foot steps back again (4th). On the forward move, the feet are interchanged (right-left-right) but the technique and foot positions are maintained.

SPECIAL TECHNIQUE
     Advanced dancers may use the special dance techniques  distinctive of the Latin dances -- Contrary Body Movement (CBM) and the Cuban Hip Movement.

RHYTHM VARIATIONS
     By substituting single rhythm for every triple rhythm in the Cha-Cha-Cha, one can dance the Mambo, another dance of Cuban origin.
     Practice each pattern, dancing a “step hold” instead of a “cha cha cha” to get you started. Then speed up the music. Gradually you will work your way up to a Mambo tempo.
     A smooth rhythm variation can be danced in either Cha-Cha-Cha or Mambo by dancing a delayed single instead of a triple rhythm. It could be a “lift step” or a “kick step”, instead of “step three times”.

STYLE VARIATIONS
     Style variations for Cha-Cha-Cha are very easy. Consider using the various dance positions of some contemporary dances -- Cradle, Macho, Pretzel, etc. Maintain the Cha-Cha-Cha beat and move from one position to another.

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