Dance Schools » Dance Education » History of dance » Cha Cha Dance History

Cha Cha Dance History

With the experimented the new beats and tempos in the music, the Mambo underwent subtle changes. Triple Mambo was invented. Among the different forms of the mambo was one called the "chatch", which introduced three quick variations of weight preceded by two slow steps. The scraping and shuffling of the feet in these steps generate a sound that sounds like "Cha Cha Cha". Arthur Murray (of Dance Studio fame), simplified the dance by dropping off a Cha and creating the 1, 2, 3, Cha Cha - he thought the adapted step would be easier to learn.
By the early 1950s, this figure had developed into a new dance contained of many simple changes on the basic footwork. The dance received the name CHA-CHA; its feature three-step change of weight carried the recognized verbal meaning, "cha-cha-cha".

In 1952, the English dance teacher Pierre Lavelle visited Cuba; and he saw that sometimes the Rumba was danced with extra beats. When he returned to Britain, he started teaching these steps as a separate dance. The name could have been resultant from the Spanish 'Chacha' significance 'nursemaid', or 'chachar' significance 'to chew coca leaves',or from 'char' meaning 'tea' , or most likely from the fast and cheerful'Cuban dance: the Guaracha. This dance has been popular in Europe from before the turn of the century.

Cha Cha Cha differentiates itself from all the other Latin dances by a vocal trademark; that is to say voices singing in harmony with no vibrato. In 1949, this new gender of dance craze was introduced in the United Stated by Minon Mondajar...Tempo wise the Cha Cha Cha is expanded, savory and inviting in its different forms...Bolaro Cha Cha Cha, Mambo Cha Cha Cha, Danzon Cha Cha Cha and perhaps even a Samba Cha Cha Cha...brass, strings or reeds are used melodically and in rhythms against a solid Latin rhythm part with voices in unison prevailing throughout.

A brief history of some styles of dance:


History of Argentine Tango The precise origins of tango are lost in the time and an unrecorded history.	Breakdance History Breakdance is a street dance style, this dance has hip hop dance.	Cha Cha Dance History The scraping and shuffling of the feet generate a sound that sounds like "Cha Cha Cha".


Flamenco Dance History Appeared from the expression of a pursued people, the Gypsies of Southern Spain.	Foxtrot Dance History This dance was the most important development in all of ballroom dancing.	History of Jazz Dance The Jazz dance was originated from the African American vernacular dance.


History of Polka Polka is defined as a lively couple dance of Bohemian source in duple time.	History of Salsa Salsa refers to a combination of informal dance styles having origins the Caribbean.	Samba History It was and is danced as a festival dance throughout the street festivals.


Disco & Hustle History In the 1970s the Hustle originated among Hispanic Communities in New York City.	History of Merengue The Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic.	History of Waltz The waltz was originated in the suburbs of Vienna and in the alpine region of Austria.