Cha-cha-cha
Cha-cha-cha took shape in Cuba in the early 1950s and is credited to the violinist and composer Enrique Jorrín, then playing with the charanga orchestra Orquesta América. He simplified the syncopation of danzón-mambo for dancers, who answered with a triple step whose shuffling sound gave the dance its name. Orquesta América's first recordings of La engañadora and Silver Star date from 1953.
By 1955 it was popular across Latin America, the United States and Western Europe. In Britain its modern competition form was laid down in the 1950s by Pierre and Lavelle and developed in the 1960s by Walter Laird. Today it is one of the five International Latin dances, in 4/4 at about 30 bars per minute, with compact steps and hip action from alternating knees.
Sources
- Cha-cha-cha (dance) — Wikipedia
- Enrique Jorrín — Wikipedia
- Cha-cha-chá — Cultura Cubana (en.culturacubana.net)
- History of Latin American dance — Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
Organisations connected with this dance
- Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), Latin American Dance
- World DanceSport Federation (WDSF)
- Federación Española de Baile Deportivo (FEBD)
Listed as references; being listed is not an endorsement by or of the organisation.