This Latin dance originated in Cuba in the 1950s. It is known for its sharp hip and leg action and footwork.
It is one of the five Latin dances currently competed internationally by professional dancers, along with the Samba, Rumba, Jive, and Paso Doble.
In the early 1950s, Enrique Jorrín worked as a violinist and composer with the charanga group Orquesta America. The group performed at dance halls in Havana where they played danzon, danzonete, and danzon-mambo for dance-orientated crowds. Jorrín noticed that many of the dancers at these gigs had difficulty with the syncopated rhythms of the danzon-mambo. To make his music more appealing to dancers Jorrín began composing songs where the melody was marked strongly on the first downbeat and the rhythm was less syncopated. When Orquesta América performed these new compositions at the Silver Star Club in Havana it was noticed that the dancers had improvised a triple-step in their footwork producing the sound "cha-cha-cha". Thus the new style that Jorrín had developed came to be known as "cha-cha-cha" and became associated with a dance step where dancers perform a triple step.
The basic footwork pattern of cha-cha-cha (one-two-cha-cha-cha) is also found in several Afro-Cuban dances from the Santeria religion. For example, one of the steps used in the dance for the orisha Ogun uses an identical footwork pattern. These Afro-Cuban dances predate the development of cha-cha-cha and were known by many Cubans in the 1950's, especially those of African origin. Thus, some have speculated that the step of cha-cha-cha was inspired by these Afro-Cuban dances.
In 1953 Orquesta América released two of Jorrin's new compositions, "La Engañadora" and "Silver Star" on the Cuban record label Panart. These were the first cha-cha-cha compositions ever recorded. They immediately became hits in Havana and other Cuban charanga orchestras quickly imitated this new style. Soon there was a cha-cha-cha craze in Havana's dance halls were both the music and the associated dance became popular. This craze soon spread to Mexico city and by 1955 the music and dance of the cha-cha-cha had become popular in Latin America, the United States, and Western Europe, following in the footsteps of the mambo which had been a worldwide craze a few years earlier.
Cha-cha-cha is danced to authentic Cuban music, although in ballroom competitions it is often danced to Latin Pop or Latin Rock. The music for the international ballroom cha-cha-cha is energetic and with a steady beat. The Cuban cha-cha-cha is more sensual and may involve complex polyrhythms.
Styles of cha-cha-cha dance may differ in the place of the chasse in the rhythmical structure. The original Cuban and the ballroom cha-cha count is "two, three, chachacha", "four-and-one, two, three" or "one, two, three, chacha". The dance does not start on the first beat of a bar, though it can start with a transfer of weight to the lead's right.
Nevertheless, many social dancers count "one, two, cha-cha-cha" and may find it difficult to make the adjustment to the correct timing of the dance, "two, three, cha-cha, one".
Cha-cha is one of the five dances of the "Latin American" program of international ballroom competitions.
As described above, the basis of the modern dance was laid down in the 1950s by Pierre & Lavelle and developed in the 1960s by Walter Laird and other top competitors of the time. The basic steps taught to learners today are based on these accounts.
In general, steps are kept compact and the dance is danced generally without any rise and fall. The modern ballroom technique of Cha-cha, and other ballroom dances, do undergo gradual evolution, particularly in competition dancing, but in essence this dance is still firmly based on its Cuban origin in the 1950s.
Men in Black - Wk 1 cha cha cha DWTS2
Kellie Pickler & Derek Hough - Cha Cha -Week-1
D L and Cheryl Burke Cha Cha Cha Dancing with the Stars Season 16
Wynonna Judd & Tony Dovolani - Cha Cha-Week-1
Aly Raisman & Mark Ballas - Cha Cha-Week-1
Jacoby Jones & Karina Smirnoff - Cha Cha -Week-1
Sharna Burgess & Andy Dick dancing Cha cha cha on DWTS 4 1 13
Sean Lowe and Peta Murgatroyd Cha Cha Cha Dancing with the Stars Season 16 Prom Week 3
Dancing with the Stars - Lisa & Gleb ( Celebration )
Zendaya Coleman and Val - Cha Cha -Week-6-DWTS'16
Mark & Aly vs Sharna & Andy dance off on DWTS 4-29-13
Season 16 Cha Cha Cha Relay - Finals
Peta Murgatroyd & Brant Daugherty dancing Cha cha cha on DWTS 9 16 13
Cha Cha Cha by Amber & Derek DWTS Dancing Whit The Stars 17 (Opening Night)
Bill Nye and Tyne Stecklein - Cha Cha Cha - Week 1
Sharna and Keyshawn ~ Cha Cha ~ Week 1 ~ DWTS 17
Nicole Polizzi (Snooki) and Sasha Farber - Cha Cha Cha - Week 1
Valerie Harper and Tristan MacManus Cha Cha Cha Dancing with the Stars Season 17 Week 3
Leah Remini & Tony - Cha Cha- DWTS 17 Week 4
Mark Ballas and Christina Milian dancing Cha cha cha on DWTS 10 14 13
Elizabeth Berkley & Val Chmerkovskiy - Cha Cha
Karina Smirnoff and Corbin Bleu dancing Cha cha cha on DWTS 10 28 13
Corbin & Elizabeth Cha Cha Dance Off DWTS 17 Week 8
NeNe Leakes & Tony's "Cha Cha" DWTS Season 18 (Week 1) Premiere
DWTS 18 Week 1 Billy Dee Williams & Emma Cha Cha
Meryl Davis & Maks- All Night DWTS 18-Week-1
DWTS Season 18 - Cody and Witney Cha Cha
Derek Hough and Amy Purdy dancing Cha cha cha on DWTS 3 17 14
Diana Nyad & Henry Byalikov Cha Cha Cha
Witney Carson & Drew Carey dancing Cha cha cha on DWTS 4 7 14
FULL DWTS 18 Week 6 Episode 6 - Candace Cameron Bure & Mark - Cha Cha Cha (4-21-2014)
Danica McKellar & Val Chmerkovskiy - Cha Cha
Sharna Burgess and Charlie White dancing Cha cha cha on DWTS 4 21 14
James Maslow & Peta Murgatroyd Cha Cha Cha Week 9
Dancing with the Stars 19 - Antonio Sabato, Jr. & Cheryl - LIVE 9-15-14
Dancing with the Stars 19 - Lolo Jones & Keo - LIVE 9-15-14
Dancing with the Stars 19 - Betsey Johnson & Tony - LIVE 9-15-14
Sadie Robertson and Mark Cha Cha (Week 1)- Dancing With The Stars
Peta Murgatroyd & Tommy Chong dancing Cha cha cha on DWTS 9 15 14
Sharna and Tavis ~ Cha Cha ~ Boogie Wonderland ~ Week 2
Geraldo Rivera and Edyta Sliwinska - Cha Cha
Terra & Sasha's Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars
Chris and Witney’s Cha Cha Dancing with the Stars (Premiere)
Bonner and Sharna's- Cha Cha- Dancing with the Stars (Premiere)
Nick Viall & Peta's "Cha Cha" DWTS Season 24 Week 1 Premiere@
Rashad Jennings and Emma Slater Cha Cha (Week 1) - Dancing With The Stars
Mr T and Kym’s Cha Cha- Dancing with the Stars (Premiere)
Nancy & Artems's Cha Cha - Dancing With the Stars (Week 2)
Simone & Sasha's Cha Cha - Dancing With the Stars ( Week 2)
Normani & Val's Cha Cha - Dancing With the Stars (Week 2)
David & Lindsay's Cha Cha - Dancing With the Stars (Week 2)
Heather Morris and Alan Bersten Cha Cha (Week Four) - Dancing With The Stars
HD Kareem and Lindsay Dancing With The Stars - Week 1 - Cha-cha-cha
HD Adam and Jenna Dancing With The Stars - Week 1 - Cha-cha-cha
HD Josh and Sharna Dancing With The Stars - Week 1 - Cha-cha-cha
HD Mary and Sasha Dancing With The Stars Premiere - Week 1 - Cha Cha
HD Milo and Witney Dancing With The Stars Premiere - Week 1 - Cha Cha
HD DeMarcus and Lindsay Dancing With The Stars Premiere - Week 1 - Cha Cha
HD Mary Lou and Sasha Dancing With The Stars Premiere Night 2 - Week 1 - Redemption Cha Cha
HD Nancy McKeon and Val “Cha Cha” - DWTS Week 2 Night 1 - Season 27
HD Tinashe and Brandon “Cha cha” - DWTS Week 2 Night 2 - Season 27
HD Bobby Bones ft. Lindsey Stirling and Sharna “Cha Cha” - DWTS Week 4- Trios - Season 27
Milo Manheim and Witney Carson Redemption Cha Cha (Week Eight) - Dancing With The Stars
Jason Mayburn & Elliana Walmsley - DWTS Juniors Week 1 Cha Cha
Addison Osta Smith & Lev Khmelev - DTWS Juniors Week 1 Cha Cha
Hudson West & Kameron Couch - DWTS Juniors Week 1 Cha Cha
Artyon Celestine & Ariana Greenblatt - Cha Cha - Dancing With The Stars Juniors - DWTS - Ep 1
Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson & Tristan Ianiero - Dancing With The Stars Juniors Episode 2
Akash Vukoti & Kamri Peterson - Dancing With The Stars Juniors (DWTS Juniors) Episode 2
Mackenzie Ziegler & Sage Rosen - DWTS Juniors Episode 5 (Dancing with the Stars Juniors)
Mandla Morris & Brightyn Brems - Dancing With The Stars Juniors (DWTS Juniors) Episode 5
Mackenzie Ziegler, Sage Rosen, Gleb DWTS Juniors Episode 9 (Dancing with the Stars Juniors)
Hannah Brown's Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Kate Flannery’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Lauren Alaina’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Ally Brooke’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
James Van Der Beek's Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars
Mary Wilson's Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars
Rashad Jennings’ Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars 28
Lamar Odom’s Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars 28
Sean Spicer’s Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars 28
Kel Mitchell’s Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars 28
Sailor Brinkley-Cook’s Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars 28
Immunity Dance Off Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars
James Van Der Beek’s Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars
Anne Heche’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Kaitlyn Bristowe’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Johnny Weir’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Justina Machado’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Nev Schulman’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Nelly’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Charles Oakley’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Jeannie Mai’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
AJ McLean’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Chrishell Stause’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Vernon Davis’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Skai Jackson’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Dance Relay- Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars
Dance Off- Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars
Justina Machado’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Melanie C’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
The Miz’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Matt James’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Kenya Moore’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
JoJo Siwa’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Martin Kove’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Suni Lee’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Amanda Kloots’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Starsamanda
Melora Hardin’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Cody Rigsby’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Jimmie Allen’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Iman Shumpert’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Dance-Off- Cha Cha - Dancing with the Stars
Xochitl Gomez’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Tyson Beckford’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Harry Jowsey’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Jason Mraz’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Mira Sorvino’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Matt Walsh’s Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Barry Williams’ Latin Night Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Charity Lawson’s Latin Night Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Jamie Lynn Spears’ Latin Night Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Lele Pons’ Motown Night Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Ariana Madix’s Music Video Night Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Xochitl Gomez and Charity Lawson’s Whitney Houston Night Dance-Off – Dancing with the Stars
Alyson Hannigan’s A Celebration of Taylor Swift Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Jason Mraz and Charity Lawson’s A Celebration of Taylor Swift Relay Dance – Dancing with the Stars
Joey Graziadei’s Premiere Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Ilona Maher’s Premiere Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Jenn Tran’s Premiere Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Eric Roberts’s Premiere Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Phaedra’s Premiere Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
Anna Delvey’s Premiere Cha Cha – Dancing with the Stars
