![]() ![]() There is a West Indies plant known to produce seedpods called “cha-chas.” These seeds are used to make small rattles also known as “cha-chas” and in Haiti traditional voodoo bands consist of musicians playing the cha-cha rattle along with a bell and three drums. ![]() ![]() Some suggest that the name of Cha Cha dance can be traced back to the religious ritual dances of the West Indies. There are different beliefs on how the Cha Cha dance got it’s name. This gave the Cha Cha a slower more mechanical feel. The American dancer Arthur Murray simplified the dance to a 1-2-3 Cha Cha rhythm because he thought it would be simpler for his studio students. 1952 English dance teacher Pierre Lavelle went to Cuba and brought back his version of the Cha Cha to the British Isles. In the 1950s, Cha Cha dancing started to spread internationally. Like Mambo dancers, Cha Cha dancers keep their feet close to the floor, move their hips a lot while keeping their upper bodies erect. Being born out of Mambo dancing, Cha Cha dancing adopted the popular Latin dance technique. This Mambo pattern became the basic step for the Cha Cha. The Cha Cha was originally one of the figures within the Mambo where three quicker steps followed two slower steps and weight was changed on each step. Mambo was born in this music and entertainment hotspot and the Cha Cha was an offshoot. Very famous American dance bands and the best Latin orchestras native to Cuba played in the Havana casinos. Influential writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams had experiences in Cuba that shaped their monumental novels, and the famous Broadway “Guys and Dolls” was set in Havana, Cuba. It was extremely popular for the rich and famous to go and spend time in Havana resorts. Havana, Cuba was a very happening place in the 1940s and 1950s. While the music of Mambo dancing comes from old traditions rooted in the heart of Africa, Mambo dancing itself was born in Cuba and the Cha Cha developed along side it. The Cha Cha is a dance that descended from another partner dance known as the Mambo. Although it is traditionally danced to up-beat music with a Latin or Cuban beat, today it is common to dance the Cha Cha to many current styles of music including Top 40, Pop and R&B. The Cha Cha is a playful and flirtatious dance known for it’s vibrant energy. ![]()
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