What is the origin of the 'cha cha cha'?

Answer 1

The latin cha-cha is a very famous ballroom dance. Created in Cuba, it contains African and Cuban rhythms that meld into a latin beat. It's characteristic counting "one, two, three, cha, cha, cha" has made it famous. The name 'Cha-Cha' is the component of a bell which kept the dancers in time and made a 'cha' sound. (like a metronome) The dance was developed from the mambo. It was invented by Enrique Jorrin, a Cuban violinist in 1954.

Answer 2

The Cha-Cha, sometimes identified with the Mambo, has many factors that make it a dance of its own. Older generations enjoy it because it can be danced using familiar patterns from the popular Rumba; the young enjoy it for its provocative movements of the dance floor. And teenagers enjoy it because it is another of those dances that allow for individual display and styling.

Cha-Cha has two geographical points of origin, Cuba and the United States. Very little claiming is made over its origin and each country uses a slightly different basic pattern and styling. Like so many other dances, the Cha-Cha has developed through the influence of other dances. Its personality, character, rhythm and charm come from two major dance sources, the Mambo and the Swing.

Inheriting some of its foot movement from the Swing, the Cha-Cha is generally danced to a step - step, 1-2-3 rhythm (sometimes called as, "one-two-cha-cha-cha"). Also, it utilizes the Latin rhythms of the triple mambo, a fast, syncopated foot style of Mambo. The Cha-Cha is a Latin American dance whose name, according to one authority, came from the hissing sound made by the heelless slippers worn by Cuban women. Both dancers and musicians alike would utter the chanting of "cha-cha-cha" on the dance floor.

The tempo is generally slow and staccato, similar to a rhythmic "blues" number. However today, it is often danced to more contemporary Latin rhythms with a sexier, spicy beat. It is this rhythmical beat that allows you to inject your own feeling into the Cha-Cha and let yourself go! This facet, more than any other, has made it a popular dance for all ages from the mid-50's through today.

Music and Tempo-

Cha Cha music is written in 4/4 time and should be played at a tempo of 30-32 measures per minute. The following timing is used: 1 - 2,3,4,&1 - 2,3,4,&1.

Style-

Style The Cha-Cha is a spot dance not moving along the Line of Dance. Steps are usually quite compact, with feet usually no more than 12 inches apart. Latin hip movement is used throughout the Cha-Cha. A more staccato hip movement is characteristic of the Cha-Cha..

Answer 3

The cha-cha-cha (in Spanish chachachá) is a Latin American style of dance music derived from the rumba and mambo in 4/4 meter.

The music of cha-cha-cha evolved from mambo. In 1951, Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín introduced the cha-cha-cha rhythm to Cuban dance floors while playing with Orquestra America.

In early days, this dance and its music were both known as "triple mambo" or "mambo with guiro rhythm". The latin cha-cha is a very famous ballroom dance. Created in Cuba, it contians African and Cuban rhythms that meld into a latin beat. It's characteristic counting "one, two, three, cha, cha, cha" has made it famous.

It was invented by Enrique Jorrin, a Cuban violinist in 1954. The Cha-Cha requires small steps because of its rhythm.

The Cha-cha became hugely popular in the United States as did the mambo in the 1950's. Dancers began inventing new steps and turns to win competitions.

Answer 4

The music of cha-cha-cha evolved from mambo. In 1951, Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín introduced the cha-cha-cha rhythm to Cuban dance floors while playing with Orquestra America. Some say that he came to this idea as early as in 1948 while being with Antonio Arcaño's orchestra. According to Jorrín, the sound made by the shoes of the dancers on the floor sounded like "cha-cha-cha", while they tried to follow the new rhythm that, at the beginning, was simply called "mambo-rumba". In 1953, his La Engañadora and Silver Star became recorded hits.

In early days, this dance and its music were both known as "triple mambo" or "mambo with guiro rhythm". The latin cha-cha is a very famous ballroom dance. Created in Cuba, it contians African and Cuban rhythms that meld into a latin beat. It's characteristic counting "one, two, three, cha, cha, cha" has made it famous. The name 'Cha-Cha' is the component of a bell which kept the dancers in time and made a 'cha' sound. (like a metronome) The dance was developed from the mambo. It was invented by Enrique Jorrin, a Cuban violinist in 1954.

Answer 5

The cha-cha-cha (in Spanish chachachá) is a Latin American dance. In ballroom dancing, it is increasingly popular to call the dance cha-cha or chacha. The music of cha-cha-cha evolved from mambo. In 1951, Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín introduced the cha-cha-cha rhythm to Cuban dance floors while playing with Orquestra America. Some say that he came to this idea as early as in 1948 while being with Antonio Arcaño's orchestra. According to Jorrín, the sound made by the shoes of the dancers on the floor sounded like "cha-cha-cha", while they tried to follow the new rhythm that, at the beginning, was simply called "mambo-rumba". In 1953, his La Engañadora and Silver Star became recorded hits. In early days, this dance and its music were both known as "triple mambo" or "mambo with guiro rhythm".

Answer 6

The English dance teacher Pierre Lavelle visited Cuba in 1952 and found a form of rumba being performed with extra steps: the slow step of the basic pattern is replaced with the triple step (cha-cha-cha chasse). He taught these steps as a separate dance which came to be known as Cha-cha-cha, or the Cha-Cha
http://www.centralhome.com/ballroomcountry/cha-cha-cha.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cha_cha_cha

Answer 7

Cha Cha is a reinvention of the Mambo, and there are many musical arrangements that beg for both dances to be performed in the same piece of music. Sometimes, it is a Cha Cha piece that has a Mambo interlude and sometimes it is a Mambo piece with a Cha Cha interlude. So it is really worth while knowing how to do both! The same can be said for Mambo and Salsa. The biggest difference between Mambo and Salsa is that, rarely can you Salsa to contemporary North American Music. In contrast, there are lots of tracks that beg you to do the Mambo!

Answer 8

This originated from south America.