chachacha An alternative theory is that the name is onomatopoeic, inspired groups by African nations, which by the shuffling sound of the gave them the opportunity to dancer’s steps on the triple beat. preserve their native traditions, Perfect10 What is certain is that the major including music and dance, as well musical origin of the dance is as accepting European influence. Cuba, which, by the beginning of One of these fusions of Cuban, the 19th century, had become the African and European rhythms cultural centre of the Hispanic was the danzón, originally a world and one of the most sequence dance performed in The cha cha cha economically prosperous of the groups, with dancers twisting Spanish colonies. In the 1820s, and entwining coloured ribbons Continuing our exploration of the standard ten the Spanish authorities allowed to make pleasing patterns while the slaves in Cuba to establish maintaining a pulsing rhythm. As dances, this month Marianka Swain uncovers cabillolos or councils, based on the dance developed, it became the history of the cheeky cha cha cha more of a courting form, with slower rhythms and couples dancing closer together. f you’re looking for a Unsurprisingly, the sinuous “ sweeping romance or hip movements, close contact Ia grand passion, you’re and low centre of gravity led to better off with a waltz or a its reputation as a scandalous tango, but for the slow build of form. In an article published in attraction, teasing, competition 1881, a La Voz de Cuba reporter and, of course, full-on flirtation, recommended “banning the nothing beats the cha cha cha,” danza and danzón because they observes ballroom teacher and are vulgar vestiges of Africa and choreographer Alison West. should be replaced by essentially From the infectious basic European dances such as the to the show-stopping tricks, quadrille and rigadoon”. The this is a dance that can wow a shock was based not just on crowd with its dynamism and the danzón’s sensuality, but sexiness or simply provide a also on the blending of cultural tantalising rhythmic cocoon in influences and styles associated which two people can smoulder. with different classes. The cha cha cha is a truly international style, with roots in owever, the dance continued Africa, the West Indies, Cuba, the Hto grow in popularity, and in US and England. The origin of 1938, Oresta Lopez composed 1950s Latin dancers Doreen Key and the name is arguably the West a danzón he called the “mambo”, Leonard Patrick show that it’s all in the hips

Indies and the religious ritual which combined Cuban melodies Photograph from the Dancing Times archive dances, which involved music, singing and movement. The with African rhythms from the seedpods of native plants were “The seedpods of native plants were used to street, and both the music and used to create a rattle, known create a rattle, known as the ‘cha cha’, which was dance associated with it became as the “cha cha”, which was Michelle van Vuuren and sensations. Mambo was further played by the tribal leader as a Julian Tocker perform a played by the tribal leader as a guide instrument solidified as a new genre when guide instrument or metronome cheeky cha cha cha or metronome to dictate the pace and rhythm” Perez Prado marketed his at Karen Hardy Studios Photograph © Carole Edrich to dictate the pace and rhythm. orchestral music under the name ➤

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“mambo” in the 1950s, bringing it to the attention of North America. Meanwhile, musicians and dancers experimented with new beats and tempos, creating, among other variations, the triple mambo, which used Cuban side steps. In 1951, Cuban violinist Enrique Jorrin recognised that some dancers were struggling with the pace and developed the beat with a medium rhythm that was instantly recognisable and less frenetic, so anyone could dance to it and also improvise. The Cuban orchestra America built on this further by playing the music with a syncopated beat, leading to the Photograph from the Dancing Times archive cha cha rhythm we dance today. and bending and straightening However, this style might not your knees in the right way, you have reached the UK had it not can create much more impact been for intrepid dance teacher and musicality than any of amount Pierre Zurcher Margolie, who, with of spinning or arm waving.” his partner Doris Lavelle, visited Alison also believes the Cuba in 1952 and was intrigued connection between music by this variation on the familiar and movement is as important mambo, particularly by the split now as it was during the fourth beat which meant you dance’s conception: “Whether started the dance on the second you’re dancing a sensual cha beat of the bar rather than the cha to slower Latin music or first. He took this interesting a spicier one to an upbeat rhythm and several new figures contemporary pop track, you back to London, teaching the need to listen carefully to the style as a brand new dance. rhythm and let your movements flow naturally from that. he cha cha cha also became “Lagging behind the music popular in the US in the makes the dance lack impact, T Above, Robin Windsor and Kristina Rihanoff 1950s, with American big bands cha cha cha on the MOVE IT stage. and rushing ahead makes it look playing in the world-famous Top right, Mr Sami, of Sami School of Dancing in Tel frenetic and uncontrolled, but if Havana clubs and taking the Aviv, teaches the dance to Rachel Chaviv in 1962 you and your partner can match it new mambo music back home perfectly, hitting the beats but also with them, in conjunction with on swing, which is also danced arms and the addition of judge- often talk about ‘Cuban motion’ floor, with the couple only able enjoying the flowing sensuality renowned teacher Arthur Murray with a triple step and a break. and crowd-pleasing tricks, such – the characteristic Latin body to produce rhythmic movement of the transitions, your cha cha adopting and simplifying the As a competitive form, cha as spins, drops and acrobatics, action. This doesn’t mean isolated by skilfully moving their feet as will be unbeatably sexy.” l style to make it accessible to cha cha has several differences particularly in more recent years. shimmying or booty shaking, but little as possible in order to create students. Rhythmically, the from the original style, including However, the key to dancing it triggering the movement from ripples through their legs and Next month: Rachelle Stretch cha cha cha was palatable to an increased sharpness in the at a high level is having respect the feet upwards. The danzón thus hips and upper bodies. Just discusses the samba

Photograph © Murray Thompson American dancers as a variation motions, more flamboyant use of for its origins, believes Alison: “We was usually danced on a crowded by putting pressure into the floor

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