Cha cha cha

In an earlier post I talked about the cha cha, and how Gary and I eventually wanted to learn the Puerto Rican/Cuban style. (They both claim this style, rather like salsa.) Anyway, we were going to wait awhile but our Latin teacher, Shayne, will be off soon with a new baby, so we thought we’d better get some lessons in before that.

We love it. The timing is the same as ballroom in that there is a (start) two, three chachacha, but that is the only thing the two styles have in common. Ballroom cha cha is more sideways…you do go back and forth some, but the basic is sideways. PR cha cha basic is back and forth, but also either moves in a small circle or “chases.” The man holds either the woman’s wrist, or the woman’s palm with his thumb and forefinger. So pretty.

We learned a few turns last night and are now besotted. I posted one video before, but in honor of a new found dance here is another. WOW.

Cha Cha Cha

Gary and I tried the cha cha a couple of years ago and didn’t like it. Nothing wrong with it. Just seemed a little stiff for our tastes.

Then, in the course of a lesson, our Latin teacher mentioned the cha cha. Puerto Rican cha cha. (Shayne’s specialty: (Organic Rhythms Studio) Latin and Puerto Rican dances.)

So off to You Tube I went. Gary and I changed our minds about the cha cha when we saw THIS. Wow. It will be awhile. We want to really master the clave and PR salsa before we engage in a new Latin dance. But the PR cha cha is in our future.

Cha cha CHA.