Timing: How To Dance Cha-Cha
Louis Trayle
Cha-Cha is like all modern music and is also a 4/4 beat. The 4 beats to the music makes it also have 4 steps to one bar of musik. The name Cha-Cha comes from the screaming sound of the fourth step, which has a characteristical Cha-Cha sound to it. You step to the side and close on this step, so with the drag of the foot that closes produces the sound.
Some teachers count the Cha Cha movement as slow, slow, quick-quick, slow but this can be confusing to the beginner. Its probably better to think of the movement as Rock, Rock, Side-Close, Side.
Modern Latino dances begin with stepping on the second beat of the music, by changing the weight from one leg to another. In Cha-Cha however, your feet move on the first, second and fourth beats. This slight change of weight gives the dance a beautiful look and feel. It occurs halfway through the first and second beats, on the third beat, and halfway through the fourth beat and also on the first beat.
Therefore counting from the second beat of music makes it easy to simply count "Two-Three, Cha-Cha, One" - if you know the basic movements you'll soon see this becoming meaningful.
There are more than one part to timing, TWO. There is a static metronome beat that flows though the entire track, which in turn dictates when it's time to move your feet. Another one is the actual tempo of the song. The tempo is what makes you take a certain step, pause for a period of time or how fast you should spin and turn. Understanding this will make you a preferable cha cha dancer.
You can't mistake a Cha Cha beat in a song. You hear two slow beats and three quick. Its the quick beats that you move side and close, cha cha cha.
Discover how to http://www.letsdancewithlouis.com/learn-cha-cha) Learn Cha Cha, because you'll definitely want to get these exclusive DVD's of the master Louis Van Amsel! A Real Master at http://www.letsdancewithlouis.com/learn-cha-cha) Cha Cha which is an beautiful dance. You can dance, lose weight and have fun!
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