Foot Changes

Cha Cha Cha Foot Changes

The Cha Cha Foot Changes are Gold Level figures. This online reference gives a detailed description of the dance steps, including timing, and movement, technique; a list of figures that may precede or follow the pattern; and videos providing instruction and demonstration of the figure, techniques and practice routines that include it.

Many Cha Cha figures can be danced ith Man and lady using the same foot after Man having danced a Foot Change to get to Right Side, Right Shadow, or Tandem Position. There are different methods for doing foot changes.

Method 1 From Open Position to Right Side or Right Shadow Position (Normal opposite foot to same foot as partner)

From Open Position to Right Side Position:

Man:

    • 2 3 4& 1: Dance Open Basic Movement for steps 1-5.

    • 2: RF back

    • 3: Transfer weight to LF

    • 4: RF diag fwd

    • 1: LF fwd and across, moving toward Lady's L side and turn 1/2 to R, to end LF back and slightly to side in RSP or R Shadow Position.

    • Now Man and lady dance RF back into Open or Closed Basic.

Lady: Lady does normal Open Basic Movement for steps 1 ~ 10.

From Open Position to Tandem Position, Lady behind.

Man:

    • Same as above, except instead of "RF diag fwd", step straight forward RF in line with LF, to end with LF back in front of Lady. No hold.

Foot Changes - Method 1 - Preceding Figures

  1. Open Basic Movement

Foot Changes - Method 1 - Following Figures

  1. Closed Basic Movement (steps 6-10)

  2. Open Basic Movement (steps 6-10)

Method 2 From Right Side or Right Shadow Position to return to Open Position (Same foot to normal opposite foot)

Both start with weight on LF.

Man: dance the foot change steps described in Method 1 to get out.

Lady: dance normal Open Basic Movement.

Foot Changes - Method 2 - Following Figures

  1. Open Basic Movement (steps 6-10)

Method 3 From Open Position to Right Side or Right Shadow Position (Normal opposite foot to same foot as partner)

Man:

    • 2 3 4& 1: Dance Open Basic Movement for steps 1-5.

    • 2: RF back

    • 3: Transfer weight to LF

    • 4& 1: RF diag fwd Lock RLR, moving towards Lady's L side. (step straight fwd if intending to get into Tandem Position)

    • 2: LF fwd and slightly across, towards Lady's L side and turning 1/2 to R, to end LF back and slightly to side in RSP or R shadow Position

    • 3: Close RF to LF without weight (Ball of foot)

    • 4&1: Rf to side to chasse RLR

Lady: does normal Open Basic Movement for steps 1 ~ 5, then Closed Basic with no turn for steps 6-20.

Foot Changes - Method 3 - Preceding Figures

  1. Open Basic Movement

Foot Changes - Method 3 - Following Figures

  1. Closed Basic Movement

  2. Open Basic Movement

Method 4 From Right Side or Right Shadow Position to return to Open Position (Same foot to normal opposite foot)

Man: dance the steps described in Method 3.

Lady: 1-5 Open Basic. 6-10 Closed Basic.

Foot Changes - Method 4 Following Figures

  1. Open Basic Movement