Cha-cha
Genevieve Thiers

Created in Cuba, it contains African and Cuban rhythms that meld into a Latin beat. The name "cha-cha" first appeared in Haiti, where it was the name of a component of a bell. This bell was made from a plat that made a "cha-cha" noise when rubbed. Haitians quickly learned to use the bell element as an instrument to keep time as well. The "cha-cha" was, therefore, probably the first metronome to hit Haiti. The cha-cha was actually created from the mambo, when it toured America. Several audiences complained that the mambo was too fast and jerky for their taste. Orchestras began slowing it down and the cha-cha was created from this new beat. Therefore, the cha-cha is a mambo, slowed down about three times! Since the mambo was a fusion of jazz and Latin rhythm, the cha-cha retains these qualities. It is a sensual, energetic dance.

The cha-cha itself was invented by Enrique Jorrin, a Cuban violinist, in 1954. Jorrin, a member of the Orquesta America Charanga, slowed down the mambo beat and made several recording that implemented this change. The sound of the cha-cha is said to be the origin of the name. When Cuban ladies danced, their hells smacked the floor in a cha-cha-cha rhythm.

The cha-cha requires very small steps because of its rhythm. The cha-cha part of the rhythm is almost a chasse, or a series of small gliding steps that touch the floor. It is danced to 4/4 time, meaning that there are four beats to a measure. The count is slow-slow-quick-quick-slow, and dancers turn while executing the steps. Spins and dips can be added, as well as a huge variety of fancy footwork. Locksteps, turns and sideways motions are also included, with breaks, or places where dancing stops entirely for a moment. Weight must be shifted carefully to make motions appear seamless. The cha-cha requires a lot of hip motion, which is how dancers make it expressive. The pelvis is held in one position and left free for this motion. Although the cha-cha uses smaller steps, dancers in competition often elongate their movement slightly to travel across the floor. Alternating between long and short steps remains the key to winning a cha-cha competition.

Cha-cha became immensely popular in the United States alongside the mambo in the 1950's. Intense competition developed between orchestra and famous jazz musicians to play a better cha-cha and mambo. Dancers invented new steps and turns to win competitions. new York, Miami and San Francisco were all hubs of this New Dance. Prado Perez and this Orchestra, in their 1951 tour, laid the seeds for the cha-cha to become not just a Latin American dance, but an American one. It is still popular today, and parts of its rhythm can be heard in the music of Ricky Marton, Enrique Iglesias and Gloria Estefan.