Learn to Dance the Cha Cha Cha Basics in Surrey – Understanding what you are learning!

Before we discuss learning to dance the Cha Cha Cha basics, let’s put the dance in context.

Five is the number of balance. It also symbolises man, health and love. According to some, it’s the number for marriage. The Pythagoreans thought of five as “hieros gamos”: the marriage between heaven and earth. Five is the number of the human being; it symbolises the four limbs and the head that controls the limbs. There are five senses: sight – hearing – taste – smell – touch.

For our purposes, five is the number of Standard Latin Dances. When learning to dance the basics of Cha Cha Cha, it’s important to know where it sits within the world of Latin dancing in general.

Learn to Dance the Cha Cha Cha Basics in Surrey – What are the five Standard Latin Dances?

1. Cha Cha Cha
2. Samba
3. Rumba
4. Paso Doble
5. Jive

Now I know there will be people screaming at this and shouting at their phones or computer screens. Shouting and getting all red and angry because their beloved salsa is not on the list. Or shouting because I didn’t include the Argentine tango. Or because I missed hundreds of different Latin styles. Well, cheer up because I did just mention some of them. Even though I’m a bit of a purist and probably wouldn’t count that many of them. However, whatever your favourite dances are, the reality is that there are only five Standard Latin dances. These are defined by the international professional competitive associations so I didn’t make the rules. Even if I did make the rules these are still the only five that I would include. That’s because they all share a heritage either in their music, their technique or their competitive history. All the other Latin styles would still be left out in the cold trying their hardest to make into the top five. We teach salsa in our school and love doing so – but it’s still not a Standard Latin Dance because the way in which you use your legs and the way in which your position your body is totally different. 

Learn to Dance the Cha Cha Cha Basics in Surrey – What are the five standard Ballroom Dances?

1. Waltz
2. Foxtrot
3. Tango
4. Quickstep
5. Viennese Waltz

I am not going to go into the ballroom dances now today as I have had too much fun being controversial already and like my wife always says, why have all the fun in five mins when you can spread it out longer?

Learn to Dance the Cha Cha Cha Basics in Surrey – Why do the Standard Latin Dances matter?

Well for the average person that comes into my dance school it probably doesn’t feature in their mind. That isn’t to say that they are wrong or bad, or as Donald Trump would say, SAD. No, the problem is actually with me. When I decide to learn something, I will always research all the information on the subject that I can. I am aware that most people would call this anal or obsessive. However, I would call it prepared. Because this is how I learn, this is also how I teach. I like to teach right from the beginning and include as much information as I can.

Learn to Dance the Cha Cha Cha Basics in Surrey – what does this have to do with the basics of Cha Cha Cha?

In one word: everything. You see, what is the point of turning up to a dance class and learning a dance and not knowing anything about it? Knowing the style will give you some indication of what you are trying to achieve. Ballroom = graceful? Latin = wiggly? Maybe we’re not thinking very technically yet but that’s already given you somewhere to start. Knowing that the Cha Cha Cha is one of the five Standard Latin Dances has already given you an idea of what you are trying to achieve. This is before you’ve even moved your feet. Because you know the order of all five Standard Latin Dances, you also know the order that they would feature in a competition if you ever went to spectate or wanted to compete yourself. If you are interested in competing, then you can read more about the competitions we attend at Rubies Dance Centre.

Learn to Dance the Cha Cha Cha Basics in Surrey – What’s my point?

If you are going to spend your hard earned money on learning a new skill then do it properly. Learning to dance isn’t just about your feet but this is how most people think. How many times have you heard the expression “two left feet”? Dancing is about so much more. What about your legs? How about your hips? Your pelvis? Your rig cage? Shoulders, arms, hands, head? You can’t leave them at home and just bring your feet.

There is a personality in each dance. We already know that Cha Cha Cha is a Latin American dance with everything that brings. Specifically though , Cha Cha Cha is a flirtatious, boisterous dance.  In our school, we describe it as being the very first time that you lay eyes on your future love… Full of excitement, cheek and fun…

I hope I have given you a flavour of this first Standard Latin Dance. If you’d like to give it a go yourself, please check out our Ballroom and Latin classes. We can help you learn the Cha Cha Cha basics in Surrey.