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You Are here: Page Updated:  August 2, 2006
Streetswings Dance History Archives: Cha Cha Cha
Cha Cha Picture
Cha Cha Title for Streetswings Cha Cha Dance History

    The Cha-Cha or Triple Mambo is basically a triple rhythm Mambo (3 step rhythm to two beats of music, usually slower) done in 4/4 time, around 126 beats per minute. The dance may have been introduced to the world by a British dance teacher 'Pierre Leville' who noticed that the Rumba was occasionally danced with a couple of extra steps. He brought the idea back with him to Europe around 1952. Music wise in 1953 the Cuban dance orchestra "America " in Havana, started playing the Danzon' with a new syncopated beat, which sounded like a slow mambo. Later it was learned in 1954 that

Enrique Jorrin, also of the band "America," was said to create the full version of the Cha-Cha back in 1948 by mixing the Danzon and Montuno music together while touring in the U.S. (some say Mexico). Basically he just called the dance cha-cha after the shuffle he heard in the music. The Cha-Cha and Rumba are related to the Mambo (salsa) Dance.

   Cuban Mambo dancers would add a slight triple hip movement to this syncopation which eventually was replaced by a triple step rhythm. The Cha-Cha was introduced to the United States in 1954 and by 1959 the U.S. was Cha-Cha crazy. The Cha Cha has the same rhythm as the Lindy (8 counts) such as 1-2/3&4/5-6/7&8. The words Cha-Cha hail from certain plants, producing seed pods in the West Indies called Cha-Cha (in Spanish means nursemaid.) These seed pods are used to make a small rattle called a Cha-Cha (maracas.) This instrument is used kinda like a metronome by certain bands.

    The Guaracha was a Theater dance originating in the late 1800's from Cuba or Spain, and was done in 3/8 time. It was danced by one person, accompanied by the guitar which some report was the precursor to the Cha-Cha. There are Sheet Music covers and a few stage plays done in the 1930's which may have some connection to the Cha-Cha as well. Cha-Cha became popular around 1955 in the USA. The Pachanga replaced the Cha-Cha in popularity. Basic Step description at bottom of page.

The dance can be known as Triple Mambo or Cha-Cha-Cha however it's official name is Cha-Cha.

Birth Place

Creation Date

Creator

Dance Type
Cuba / America 1948 (1952) Cubans (Enrique Jorrin & Pierre Leville) Latin
 

Posters etc.

Sheet Music Covers

Music Titles
n/a

1932 - The Machacha

1931 - MuChaCha?
     

1933 - Down The Old Road

1934 - Hot-Cha Chiquita ?
     

1934 - The Ha-Cha-Cha

de Corizon de Corizon
     

1954 - Cha Cha Cha (Lucille Ball)

Cha Cha Cha Chabela

        Martian Cha Cha Cha (La Playa Sextet)
        Por Favor (Mxwell)
        $ Ran Kan Kan
       

Rockin' the cHA cHA (Maxwell)
           

$ Oye Como Va: The Dance Collection
           

$ Latin Dance Party, Vol. 3
           

$ Latin Dance Party, Vol. 4
           

$ Let's Dance the Cha Cha Cha
           

$ Dance the Night Away (4 CD's)
           

$ The Best of Tito Puente
 

Night Clubs

Theaters

Locations
Ali Baba    
Aaragon Ballroom (1956 TX)    
Barcelona Cafe (1958 Proiette)    
Dicken's Room (1958)    
El Morraco    

Palladium

 n/a

Haiti

Roseland Ballroom

      

Cuba
Rudy's Inn (La Canada, CA)        

Savoy Ballroom

      

USA
           

West Indies

Films

Television

Stage

1933 - College Humor

1984 - Routes of Rhythm

1932 - Hot - Cha?

1934 - Caravan

1993 - Cha Cha Cha

1934 - Caravan

1935 - In Caliente'

1995 - Tango, mambo et cha-cha-cha

1934 - Keep Moving?

1950 - ?Chá?

 

1952 - Salón de baile

       

1955 - Bailando cha cha cha

        

1955 - Las Viudas del cha cha cha

        

1955 - Qué lindo Cha Cha Cha

        
1955 - World of Suzy Wong (Nancy Kwan)        

1956 - Cha-Cha-Cha-Boom

        

1956 - La Engañadora (Jorrin)

        

1957 - Bambalinas (Prado)

        

1958 - Maratón de baile (Jorrin)

        

1958 - Mi desconocida esposa (Jorrin)

        

1959 - Girls for the Mambo-Bar (Prado)

        

1981 - Cha Cha Cha

        

$1988 - Salsa (Puente)

        

1989 - Cha Cha Cha

        

$1992 - Mambo Kings (Puente)

        

1998 - Cha-Cha-Chá

        

$ Son Sabroson 1 - History

       

$ Son Sabroson 2 - History

       

Other Dances of the time...

Bolero

Flamenco

Merenconga

 Salsa (see Mambo)
Bop

Guapacha

Merengue

 Son

Bossa-Nova

Guaracha

Mexican Hat Dance

 Stroll
Calypso

La Cucaracha

Montuno

 Spanish Dance

Carioca

Latin Dance

Pachanga

 Tamborito

Charanga

Limbo Dance

Rumba

 Tango

Conga

Mambo

Samba

 Twist, the

Danzon'

 Madison Dance (1960)    

Fandango

      

Dancers, Choreographers etc.
Abby Lane (Prado)  

Veloz & Yolanda
Anita Elkberg (1958)

Lucille Ball

Joe Piro

Antonio & Renee DeMarco

Mildred Day (1935 Hollywood Revue)

  

Augie and Margo

 Nancy Kwan (Suzy Wong)  
Bob and Shirley Sherman (Instructors 1960) Olga and Pedro (1955)  
Bud Billet and Gloria Padillo (1960) Pierre Levelle (1952)  

Busby Berkley (Choreo)

 Ray Bolger and Dorothy Kirsten  
Frankie Avalon and Alana    
Ha Cha San ? (Latin/Mexican dancer c1933)    
Joe 'Goo' Proiette (1958)    
Kirk Hayes (Instructor - Ali Baba)    

Books, Magazine Articles on the dance...

Title

Author

Date Published

Publisher
n/a n/a n/a n/a
                       
 

Musicians / Singers, etc.

Bands

Magazine Publications

Dámaso Pérez Prado (1916-1989)

America

9/1958 - Sepia Mag.

Dean Martin

Art Mooney & His Big Band

8/1960 - Ballroom Dance Mag.

Enrique Jorrin

Cha Cha Boys

9/1960 - Ballroom Dance Mag.

Edyie Gorme

Fred Sateriale Band

12/1960 - Ballroom Dance Mag.

Ernest Anthony Puente (1923-2001)

Pedro Garcia & his Del Prado Orchestra

      

Jack Costanzo

Tommy Dorsey Band

Newspaper Publications
Jose Curbelo and His Quintet.

Xavier Cugat Orchestra

 10/7/1933 - Hammond Times (Ha Cha San)
La Playa Sextet (c1958)       6/27/1935 - Hammond Times - (Margo - Ha Cha Cha)

Laurindo Almeida

       6/23/1955 - Southern Economist (Triple Rhythm Mambo)
Machito, Perez Prado, Tito Puente etc       8/18/1955 - Reno Gazette (Tarzan & Turner Learns Cha Cha)

Rene Touzet

       10/21/1955 - Odessa American (Nancy Kwan does Cha)

Richard Maltby

       12/13/1956 - Charleston Gazette (Couple do Cha)
Tom Jobim (CHÁ DANÇANTE-1956)       3/7/1957 - Chronicle-Telegram (Tamborito & Cha)
        5/9/1957 - Daily Review (YMCA Cha Class Adv)
        1/10/1959 - Oakland Tribune (New Way to Teach Cha)
        3/5/1959 - Fitchburg Sentinel (about the Cha Cha)
        11/3/1959 - Independent (Anita Elkberg)
        6/15/1960 - Oakland Tribune (America #1 in dance)

Misc. Research Words that may be related ... to help your searches

tcha - tcha

Kwa-Kwa

Latin

 guiro (Musical Instrument)

Pachucko

Zoot Suit

Latino

Bailar

Baile

      
               

Basic Step description: (American Style Sideways and/or Forward/Back, International Style is basically done Sideways.)
Partners face each other. Leader starts with left foot, Follower starts with right foot. Side Steps are same direction as foot used.
Basic ballroom hold. Followers do opposite in below. Dance is rock (like a rocking chair motion) or break on 1 or 2... depending!

Note: "Cha-Cha-Cha" below is three fully weighted quick steps. Slow=1 beat, Quick = 1/2 beat. Side steps can be Forward/Back: Backwards steps replace side steps for Lt and Forward steps replacing side steps on Rt as well during Cha-Cha-Cha's

Breaking on count One
Fwd Rock Back Step Step Side Together Step Side Back Rock Step Fwd Step Side Together Side
1 2 3 and 4 5 6 7 and 8
Step Step Cha Cha Cha Step Step Cha Cha Cha
LT RT LT RT LT RT LT RT LT RT
Slo Slo Qk Qk Qk Slo Slo Qk Qk Qk
(for the break on One).
Counted 1-2--3&4-5-6--7&8...
[Leaders start: step forward with left foot on count one, then back with Right foot on two, Followers step back with right, forward with left]. (Cha-Cha hip action is actually on rock step but can start with Cha-Cha-Cha).
Street version: 1st step is done in place. Occassionally the dance is forward and back, instead of side to side.  
   

Breaking on count Two

  
Step Side
Fwd Rock
Back Step
Step Side
Together
Step Side
Back Rock
Step Fwd
Step Side
Together
1 2 3 4 and 1 2 3 4 and
Cha! Step Step Cha Cha Cha Step Step Cha Cha -
RT LT RT LT RT LT RT LT RT LT -
Slo Slo Slo Qk Qk Qk Slo Slo Qk Qk -
(for the break on Two).
Counted (1) 2-3--4&1- 2-3--4&1...
[Leaders start: side step with right foot on 1, then Fwd. on count two for rock. Followers step side with left on 1, Right foot back on count two]. (Cha-Cha hip action is actually on rock step but can start with Cha-Cha-Cha).
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