The Cha Cha is a traditional ballroom dance structured to music in 4/4 time. You move your feet only on the first, second and fourth beats, and the fourth beat gets two quick steps. These beats are counted slow, slow-quick-quick-quick. Practice it a time or two and in no time at all you will have learned how to dance the Cha Cha.

• Ballroom dancing is seeing a comeback. Among one of the most popular—and easiest to learn—is the Latin dance called the Cha Cha. This quick little shuffle will get you started.

(Creative Commons photo by Lisa Allen)

• In Cha Cha, the man starts with the Forward Basic Movement and the woman starts with the Back Basic Movement in parallel.

1. On the second beat of the music, slide your left foot forward and change weight to the left leg
2. Next step on your right foot and rock back, changing your weight onto your right leg. Don't move your left foot!
3. Then Step back side-left, changing your weight back onto your left side and drag your Right foot close to your Left
4. Change weight onto your right leg, move your left foot to the side and then change weight onto your Left leg. Don't move your Right foot!

• After the man has completed his Forward Basic Movement, then he does the Back Basic movement, during which the woman performs the Forward Basic Movement.

1. Slide your right foot back and rock back to the music on the second beat. Change your weight onto the right leg, but don't move your left yet.
2. Change your weight into the left leg and don't move your right
3. Step forward to the side with your right food and change weight onto the right leg. Drag your left foot close into your right and don't change weight yet.
4. Change your weight onto your left leg and step with your right foot to the side, changing your weight onto the right leg.

• The next basic steps are to repeat Steps 1 and 2 at least twice

1. The steps may include a quarter turn while you're rocking back.

• The basic steps for the Cha Cha are fairly straightforward, and if you follow these instructions, you'll be dancing the Cha Cha in no time!

• Ballroom Dancers.com: Cha Cha

• Expert Village: Cha-Cha Dance Lessons

• StreetDance Australia: Timing - Cha Cha

• YouTube: Free Online Dance Lesson Cha Cha Slavik Karina and Corky Bal (Time 3:17)

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• Introduction
• Step 1: The Forward Closed Basic Movement
• Step 2: the Back Closed Basic Movement
• Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2