Cha Cha: History and Features of Popular Latin American Dance
He is young, handsome and energetic. Is it possible to talk like that about dance? Yes, because we are talking about a cha-cha-cha, in which lightness, playfulness and carelessness are felt. Despite its simplicity, the style continues to captivate the audience of all ages. What is special about this dance and where was it born? We offer to learn the history of cha-cha-cha details right now.
Dance history
The origin of the cha-cha is closely connected with the history of Cuba, where, in fact, this dance direction originated. It all started with the appearance on the future of the island of Freedom English folk dance contradance. This happened in the XVIII century, when Havana was under the occupation of the British. The simple contradance movements appealed to the Cubans and became the basis for creating their own national dance, which they began to call dance.
The recognition of Cuba’s independence in 1895 led to a flood of planters on the island. They arrived along with their slaves, blacks, who were to change the dance traditions of the local population. The Africans brought with them ritual dances that attract attention with a fast rhythm and bold movements of the hips. It is not known who thought up to mix dance and African culture in one dance cocktail, but it happened. So, there appeared a danson, which gained popularity in the upper classes of Cuba.
While the beau monde enthusiastically danced the danson, the common people honed their skills in performing rumba and other African dances. In the end, the inevitable merger of danson and rumba occurred. But it was not easy to move at a fast pace of the new direction, called mambo - the dancers barely had time to adjust to the rhythm of the music.
To make life easier for Cubans, who could not imagine their life without dancing, was decided by local composer Enrique Horrin. He wanted to create a new music with a calmer and at the same time memorable tune. Enrique's experiments ended in 1949 with the composition "La enganadora", with which the real story of cha-cha-cha begins. Although originally a musician called the new rhythm "mambo-rumba".
What was Horrin's innovation? First, he made the rhythm more distinct. Secondly, I decided to do without the introduction or introduction, which was characteristic of the dancer. Third, he invited all the musicians of the orchestra to sing in unison. The choral performance was to the liking of the public and Enrique himself. It seemed to him that the lyrics of the songs sounded more distinct in this case. One last thing: he changed the accents in the music so that the dancers could make movements even without instrumental accompaniment.
Easy, fun and festive dance quickly won the love of the people of Cuba. In the middle of the 20th century, in almost every local street cafe you could watch the cha-cha dance. Considering that Liberty Island was a favorite vacation spot for Americans, one should not be surprised at the speed at which the dance spread throughout the United States.
Europe does not stand aside. In 1952, Pierre Lavelle, an English choreographer, arrived on the island. The unusual manner of Cubans dancing the rumba did not leave him indifferent. Without thinking twice, Pierre "took" an original dance from the continent - so cha-cha spread throughout European countries.
Despite its short history, the dance had changed. For example, if earlier chasse, sliding steps, it was decided to dance on half-bent legs, now pas is performed on straight lines. But small deviations do not interfere with enjoying cha-cha, its expressiveness, naturalness and clarity. The number of people willing to master Latin American choreography is not decreasing. In addition, teachers say: everyone can master this dance.
The best melodies in the rhythm of cha-cha-cha
"Sway" - many associate the cha-cha with this particular melody. Today there are at least 30 cover versions of this composition. Best known for her performance of the group Pussycat Dolls thanks to the film "Let's Dance". Despite its English name, the song has Mexican roots, because it was written by Pablo Beltran Ruiz, who led the orchestra in Mexico City. The melody was called accordingly "¿Quién será?" and was created back in 1953.
"Sway" (listen)
"El Jamaiquino" or "Man from Jamaica" - the first composition in the genre of cha-cha-cha, which was destined to conquer New York in the mid-50s of the XX century. A light, dancing melody was played on the radio almost without stopping, allowing every resident of the city to enjoy Cuban culture. The song was especially popular in the sextet "La Playa", although it was originally performed by Nino Rivera in 1944. In 1954, Tito Rodriguez, the famous Latin American singer, worked on "El Jamaiquino". To the usual set of musical instruments, he added "kihadu", which is a donkey's jaw with rattling teeth.
"El Jamaiquino" (listen)
"Rico Vasilon" - The creation of the Cuban pianist Ruben Gonzalez. And although the composer is better known as the founder of a different musical style - a dream, the cha-cha rhythms were not alien to him. The composition is worth listening to everyone who wants to know how the real chacha sounds.
"Rico Vasilon" (listen)
"Mira Pa Dentro" Spanish musician Carlos Gina. The song was recorded in 2003 and still does not lose relevance for all lovers of Cuban dance. Melody literally makes the body move, beating a clear triple step.
"Mira Pa Dentro" (listen)
"Capullito De Aleli" - a song that dancers often use when performing cha-cha. Its author is Caetano Veloso, a Brazilian musician. The composition is filled with romantic lyrics that are enhanced by the soft voice of the singer. It is not surprising that she liked the fans of the genre.
"Capullito De Aleli" (listen)
What is cha cha cha? Dance features
Cha-cha-cha is, of course, the calling card of the Cuban people and a mandatory part of the Latin American program of sports ballroom dancing. Not surprisingly, the direction still continues to find fans around the world.
Say out loud "cha-cha-cha". Do you feel a clear, fast rhythm, which seems to be embedded in the very name of the dance? According to one version, the style got its original name thanks to the dancers. They followed the sounds of the maracas and beat off additional blows under them, exactly three times. An attempt to beat a new melody and served as the basis for the name of the dance.
According to another version, the style was named after leguminous plants with the “rattling” fruits of cha-cha growing in India. They made rattles, which were used in the creation of ritual music. Another legend says that the name is due to the Cuban Guaracha dance.
You can distinguish cha-cha from other genres by the following features:
musical accompaniment is characterized by a clear rhythm and moderate tempo. If we talk about the international style of performance, the pace is 32 beats per minute;
movements are expressive, energetic, fast, without ups and downs. The main combination is the triple steps, due to which the dance is sometimes called the "triple mambo". All this is complemented by the intense movements of the partner’s hips;
the nature of the dance is fiery, fun, carefree and playful. The main role in the pair belongs to a woman who seems to be flirting, flirting with a partner. At the same time, all movements are designed to show the beauty and grace of the curves of the female body, which intensifies the passions in the couple and in the auditorium;
dance cha-cha in the pair, and at a distance. In any case, there are always two - he and she - whose hot feelings turn into an unusual energy performance.
Interesting Facts
- Enrique Horrin recorded most of his melodies in the cha-cha-genre, playing the violin in the orchestra "America". The team of musicians performed modern rhythms with pleasure, delighting the people of Havana. But Enrique had to leave the orchestra because of disagreements with the director Ninon Mondekhar. He claimed that the creation of a new musical style was his work. This Horrin could not stand.
"Silver Star" - the last composition of Horrin in the rhythms of the beloved world of the dance genre. She wrote it in 1952.
In 1958, a championship in cha-cha was held in Hong Kong. He was won by a 17-year-old boy, whom fate had prepared for a completely different path. It was Bruce Lee. He began to learn to dance in 13 years. It turns out it took him only 4 years to become the best in this field.
According to the rules of ballroom dancing, the distance between the partners during the execution of the cha-cha should not be more than 15 cm.
The status of the participant of the competition on Latin American dances was received by the cha-cha in 1954, quite a short time after its official birth. This indicates the great interest and popularity of the genre among dancers and those who are far from the world of dance.
In English, it is often said that the dance is simply called chacha. This is due to the innovation that was introduced by the American choreographer Arthur Murray. Initially, the movements were performed under the score "one, two, cha, cha, cha", where 5 cycles are clearly traced. Murray used a different account: "one, two, three, cha-cha." At the same time, “cha-cha” is one measure, which eventually resulted in 4. Due to this, a new name was born.
The popularity of cha-cha-cha was not ignored by the film industry. His performance can be seen in such films as "And God Made Woman" (Bridget Bordeaux Dances) and "Dirty Dances" (Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray beat a clear rhythm).
The summer of 1954 for New York music lovers passed under the sign of "cha-cha-cha." Two of the three records were released in this genre.
Cha-cha-cha is sometimes called the dance of the coquettes due to the characteristic expressive movements of the hips, which are performed by the female partners.
To demonstrate your skills in the performance of Latin American chacha, it is not necessary to look for a large dance floor. The style is characterized by minimal advancement in the hall, so a small space is quite suitable.
The names of the dance figures, characteristic for this direction, have interesting names: fan, New York and hockey stick.
If in Havana, the “America” orchestra in the person of Enrique Horrin was writing the cha-cha, then in New York it was Tito Rodriguez, who had many Cuban-style tunes.
Now you know what is cha-cha-cha, its history and the best melodies in its rhythms. It remains only to learn to dance the most vivid and memorable Cuban dance. Dare!
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