Why is Cha Cha good for you?
- Cha Cha fixes timing problems.
- Cha Cha trains your ear.
- Cha Cha teaches body styling and isolations.
- Cha Cha is cool.
Let’s see why.
Frankie Martinez often says that “if Salsa is the man, then Cha Cha is the woman”. Cha Cha can be so delicate like the smell of a woman’s hair and as emotional as the jealousy of a girlfriend. There is an incredible addiction to dancing Cha Cha that is not very apparent at first, but very powerful.
Maybe it is because of its catchy and light Cha Cha Cha rhythm, or the marked accent of the 2 and 6 beats. Maybe it’s the carefree and non-hurried feel of the dance. Cha cha is so slow compared to Salsa that it feels like there is almost an infinite amount of time to develop and execute body isolations. Moreover, because Cha Cha is slower in tempo, we tend to pay more attention to the rhythmic components. The tumbao rhythm becomes so apparent in a way that it takes control of our body. The connection of the steps to the percussion of the music is remarkably easy to feel.
Perhaps its attraction rests on the opposite feel of its components, the cha-cha-cha (4 and 5 or 8 and 1) part feels subtle and natural, and the 2 3 (or 6 7) feel so determined and exact. And it is this contrast in movement that allows us to experiment with our bodies.
In terms of technique, the Cha Cha teaches exact timing and definition of steps. The Cha Cha rhythm is easy to hear and dance because the music is so slow that we can internalize the connection of the steps to the percussion beats. Initially, beginners dancers find it difficult to stay on the Cha Cha beat because Cha Cha’s tempo is so slow compared to Salsa. After a while the “cha cha cha” part of the beat jumps out from the music and it becomes crystal clear, taking hold of one’s sense of timing.
Cha Cha is precise in way that salsa cannot match. 10 milliseconds of discrepancy in a Cha cha step makes the body feel out-of-tune, whereas the same discrepancy in Salsa is the expected standard tolerance. ChaCha has very little room for timing error, but lots of freedom of in movement range.
So next time that the DJ plays a Cha Cha, do not take a break. Instead, grab a partner and use that opportunity to experiment with some isolations. Better yet, try to dance Cha Cha with perfect timing. After a while, there should be a noticeable improvement in your Salsa dancing.
Bloch is carried here as well,...
What are some good Cha Cha Cha songs for a beginner. I’m an “intermediate” salsa dancer, but would like to know more about cha cha cha.
c.
ps is cha cha the same as cha cha cha?
One of my favorite Cha Cha songs is “El Raton” by Cheo Feliciano.
Anthony wrote a post recently (with the live version of the song):
http://addicted2salsa.com/2008/05/29/salsa-biography-cheo-feliciano/
This song is catchy and has a clear beat.
wow, that is a much slower beat….like the song though. I’m going to have to get it.
when counting in my head (cuz I still do this w/ salsa), is it: 1,2,3-4-5, 6,7,8-9-10. Or similarly: 1,2,cha-cha-cha, 5,6,cha-ch-cha.
Or should I not think of it those terms.
Hmm… El raton is hard to dance too because its extremely slow. I would recommend A Mi Cuba by Tito Puente and Celia Cruz available in iTunes. Its got a nice beat to practice with. Cha Cha is a very complicated dance to master. I think only now do I appreciate it. As a beginner I never consider it “fun.” But the rhythm is infectious and amazingly fun. Its not easy and you MUST dance it on2 otherwise your going to mess up your timing-skills. Keep an ear out for our next podcast. I have a good lineup set up.
I enjoy Cha cha (which is the same as Cha Cha Cha). The step is addictive; a class of Cha cha and your cetain to still be shuffling when you switch back to Salsa.
The hardest thing about learning Cha cha is that every you find on the web or on DVDs is on the ballroom variation, which is not the same as whats in the clubs-though you can borrow from it. If someone knows of some video instruction on ’street’ Cha cha, please pass it along.
Siksika,
Like Karlosism says, in ballroom and social Cha Cha Cha, the breaking step is on 2. So the count goes liek this:
1 2 3 4 & 5 6 7 8 & 1 2 3
Cha 2 3 ChaChaCha 6 7 ChaChaCha 2 3
In other words, first two chacha’s match the “tumtum” of the tumbao rhythm. The breaking step on the 2 agrees with the slap on the tumbao.
So, I like to count Cha Cha like this:
1 2 3 4 & 5 6 7 8 & 1 2 3
ta 2 3 tu cu ta 6 7 tu cu ta 2 3
But anything works. In fact, Frankie Martinez said last week “I think of Cha Cha as a series of rhythmic phrases”. Of courses his phrases are more complicated.
yes and yes =) I must admit, I didnt initially like cha cha. Mainly because I didn’t understand it. but yanno, I find that cha cha is actually easier to transition hip hop moves and style into–maybe that’s why I enjoy it so much more. yes, body movement is easily accented to the percussion beats. MMMM. it was love when i began to understand it. ScarletMambo’s explanation works =) That is correct on2 timing, the ONLY way it should be danced, haha. It’s a lot easier to play with–body roll on 2-3 OR 4-and-5, or altogether, haha. It is quite addicting =) Here’s a community challenge: do the running man to a cha cha song. Haha, sure, it’s a little hiphop biased, lol. You can even electric slide to it =P
i learned the cha-cha and i have to tell you it is hard