Cha Cha Choreography

See Also: Cha Cha Syllabus Routine Builder.

Unless otherwise stated, choreography is described from leader's perspective.

Cha Cha Cha Newcomer Practice Routine #1

  1. Basic Movement In Place (234&1 234&1)

  2. Open Basic Movement (23)

  3. Three Cha Cha Chas Back (4&1 2&3 4&1)

  4. Closed Basic Movement (234&1) w/ quarter turn

  5. New York LSP (234&1)

  6. New York RSP (234&1)

  7. Spot Turn To R (Lady to L) (234&1)

  8. Hand To Hand LSP (234&1)

  9. Hand To Hand RSP (234&1)

  10. Underarm Turn To R (234&1)

  11. Shoulder To Shoulder Left Side (234&1)

  12. Shoulder To Shoulder Right Side (234&1)

  13. Spot Turn To R (234&1) Lady: does time step.

  14. Spot Turn To L (Lady to R) (234&1) Man: does time step

  15. There And Back (234&1 234&1)

  16. Closed Basic Movement (234&1 234&1) last measure do quarter turn.

  17. Open Basic Movement (234&1 23)

  18. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (4&1 2&3 4&1)

[Repeat from step #2]

Cha Cha Cha Bronze Practice Routine #1

Start with Man LF free, Lady RF free.

  1. Basic Movement In Place (234&1 23)

  2. Open Basic Movement (4&1 234&1) lock step

  3. Closed Basic Movement (234&1) quarter turn to L

  4. New York LSP (234&1)

  5. Underarm Turn To R (234&1)

  6. Fan (234&1 234&1)

  7. Hockey Stick (234&1 23)

  8. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (4&1 2&3 4&1)

  9. Open Basic Movement (234&1)

  10. Natural Top (234&1 234&1 234&1)

  11. Natural Opening Out Movement (234&1)

  12. Closed Basic Movement (234&1)

  13. New York LSP (234&1)

  14. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1)

  15. New York RSP (234&1)

  16. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1) facing partner

  17. Spot Turn To R (234&1) Lady does time step

  18. Spot Turn (Lady to R) (234&1) Man does time step

  19. There And Back (234&1 234&1)

  20. Closed Basic Movement (234&1)

  21. Underarm Turn To R (234&1)

  22. Side Step To Right commenced with LF (234&1)

  23. Fan (234&1)

  24. Alemana (234&1 234&1)

  25. Closed Hip Twist (234&1 234&1) end in open position

  26. Open Basic Movement (234&1)

Repeat from step 3.

Cha Cha Cha Bronze Practice Routine #2

  1. Open Basic Movement (234&1 234&1)

  2. Alemana (234&1 234&1)

  3. Closed Hip Twist (234&1 234&1)

  4. Hockey Stick (234&1 234&1)

  5. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1)

  6. Open Basic Movement (234&1)

  7. Natural Top (234&1 234&1 234&1)

  8. Natural Opening Out Movement (234&1)

  9. Closed Basic Movement (234&1) quarter turn

  10. New York LSP (234&1)

  11. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1)

  12. New York RSP (234&1)

  13. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1)

  14. Spot or Switch Turn To R (234&1) Lady: timestep

  15. Spot or Switch Turn To L (Lady to R) (234&1) Man: timestep

  16. There And Back (234&1 234&1)

  17. Side Step To Right commenced with LF (234&1)

  18. Side Step To Right commenced with RF (234&1)

  19. Hand To Hand RSP (234&1)

  20. Spot or Switch Turn To L (Lady to R) (234&1)

  21. Spot or Switch Turn To R (Lady to L) (234&1)

  22. Fan (234&1)

  23. Alemana (234&1 234&1)

Repeat from #3

Cha Cha Cha Bronze Practice Routine #3

  1. Basic Movement In Place (234&1 23) feet together for all steps

  2. Open Basic Movement (4&1) Man: fwd, Lady: back [could add another Open Basic]

  3. Alemana (234&1 234&1) last 4&1 should be fwd lock

  4. Closed Hip Twist (234&1 234&1)

  5. Hockey Stick (234&1 234&1) - Lady: do checked chasse, Man: ronde chasse; at the end, switch to patty cake hold

  6. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1) Man: fwd; Lady: back

  7. Open Basic Movement (234&1) - Man: does side step at the end to enter Natural Top.

  8. Natural Top (234&1 234&1 234&1)

  9. Closed Hip Twist (234&1 234&1) ending in closed position. [or it could be Natural Opening Out Movement (234&1) and Turning Basic Movement (234&1)]

  10. New York LSP (234&1) At the end "1&", Man turn 1/2 to L, Lady, turn 1/2 to R to RSP

  11. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1) On "4&1", Man turn 1/2 to R, Lady, turn 1/2 to L to face partner.

  12. Spot Turn To L (Lady to R) (234&1) At the end "1&", Man turn 1/2 to R, Lady, turn 1/2 to L to LSP

  13. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1) On "4&1", Man turn 1/2 to L, Lady, turn 1/2 to R to face partner.

  14. Spot Turn To R (Lady to L) (234&1)

  15. New York RSP (234&1)

  16. Man does Spot Turn To R (234&1) Lady does Time Step RF (together in place, side chasse)

  17. Man does Time Step RF (234&1) Lady does Spot Turn, Lady to R

  18. There And Back (234&1 234&1)

  19. Side Step To Man's Left commenced with LF (234&1) (side-together-side-together-side)

  20. Hand To Hand LSP (234&1)

  21. Lady: Underarm Turn to L (234&1) [or do not turn to face partner in Hand to Hand and do switch turn.]

  22. Lady: Underarm Turn To R (234&1) [or do spot turn]

  23. Fan (234&1 234&1) Basic fan: Man: hip twist chasse, Lady: step straight.

  24. Alemana (234&1 234&1) Man: slip chasse Lady: fwd lock pass Man, then sharp turn for Alemana.

  25. Shoulder To Shoulder Left Side, Right Side (234&1 234&1). after last shoulder to shoulder, separate with arms out

Repeat from #1

Cha Cha Cha Bronze Practice Routine #4

  1. Basic Movement In Place (234&1 23) feet together for all steps

  2. Open Basic Movement (4&1) Man: fwd, Lady: back

  3. Open Basic Movement (234&1 234&1) Turning basic (to L).

  4. Alemana (234&1 234&1)

  5. Closed Hip Twist (234&1 234&1)

  6. Hockey Stick (234&1 234&1) - Lady: do checked chasse, Man: ronde chasse; at the end, switch to patty cake hold

  7. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1) Man: fwd; Lady: back

  8. Open Basic Movement (234&1) - Man: does side step at the end to enter Natural Top.

  9. Natural Top (234&1 234&1 234&1)

  10. Natural Opening Out Movement (234&1)

  11. Closed Basic Movement (234&1) - turning basic

  12. New York LSP (234&1) At the end "1&", Man turn 1/2 to L, Lady, turn 1/2 to R to RSP

  13. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1) On "4&1", Man turn 1/2 to R, Lady, turn 1/2 to L to face partner.

  14. Spot Turn To L (Lady to R) (234&1) At the end "1&", Man turn 1/2 to R, Lady, turn 1/2 to L to LSP

  15. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1) On "4&1", Man turn 1/2 to L, Lady, turn 1/2 to R to face partner.

  16. Spot Turn To R (Lady to L) (234&1)

  17. New York RSP (234&1)

  18. Man does Spot Turn To R (234&1) Lady does Time Step RF (together in place, side chasse)

  19. Man does Time Step RF (234&1) Lady does Spot Turn, Lady to R

  20. Hand To Hand RSP (234&1)

  21. Hand To Hand LSP (234&1)

  22. Lady: Underarm Turn to L (234&1)

  23. Lady: Underarm Turn To R (234&1)

  24. Shoulder To Shoulder Left Side (234&1)

  25. Shoulder To Shoulder Right Side (234&1)

  26. Fan (234&1 234&1) Basic fan: Man: hip twist chasse, Lady: step straight.

  27. Alemana (234&1 234&1) Man: slip chasse Lady: fwd lock pass Man, then sharp turn for Alemana.

[Repeat from #3]

Cha Cha Cha Silver Practice Routine

Start Man RF back, weight on LF; Lady LF front, weight on RF

  1. Open Basic Movement (234&1) step 6-10 of Open Basic

  2. Open Hip Twist (234&1 234&1) ending in Open Position

  3. Closed Basic Movement (234&1)

  4. Time Step LF (&34&1) Guapacha Timing. Man Time Step, Lady: Cuban Break

  5. Split Cuban Break RF (&34&1) Guapacha Timing. Man: Split cuban Break; Lady: Time Step

  6. Cuban Break RF (2&3&4&1)

  7. New York LSP (234&1) change side chasse to run-run-run

  8. Underarm Turn To R (234&1)

  9. Closed Hip Twist (234&1 234&1) Finish in Fan Position

  10. Hockey Stick (234&1 234&1)

  11. Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (2&3 4&1)

  12. Chase (234&1 234&1 234&1 234&1)

  13. Open Hip Twist (234&1 23)

  14. Reverse Top (4&1 234&1) Lady spiral on last count "1", into Aida

  15. Aida (234&1 234&1 234&1) Rock and Spot Turn Ending

  16. Cross Basic (&34&1 &34&1) Guapacha Timing, Lady does Spiral on step 5, then side chasse to finish in Open Position.

  17. Hand To Hand RSP (234&1)

  18. New York RSP (234&1)

  19. Curl (234&1 234&1) (in double hand hold) Finish in Fan Position

  20. Alemana (234&1 234&1)

  21. Rope Spinning (234&1 234&1) Finish in Open two hand hold position

  22. Cuban Break LF (2&3&4&1) Finish: Lady turn 1/2 to R, Man turn 1/2 to L, ending side by side position for next cuban break.

  23. Cuban Break RF (2&3&4&1) Finish back to open facing position.

  24. Split Cuban Break LF (2&3)

  25. Split Cuban Break RF (4&1)

  26. New York LSP (234&1), spiral at the end into Aida

  27. Aida (234&1 234&1 234&1) Underarm turn to R ending. ("Elvis" move)

Repeat from Open Hip Twist

Cha Cha Cha Gold Routine #1

Start: in Open Position. Man's LH to Lady's RH. Man's weight on his LF, RF back. Lady's weight on her RF, LF front.

  1. Open Basic (234&1 234&1)

  2. Natural Top (23) Lady: lock step fwd (4&1)

  3. Advanced Hip Twist (234&1) with accent, then into Fan (234&1)

  4. Hockey Stick (234&1 234&1) finish w/ side chasse

  5. New York LSP (2&3&4&1) syncopated

  6. Cuban Break RF (2&3&4&1)

  7. New York LSP (234&1)

  8. Spot Turn, Man To L (Lady to R) (234&1) Both turns, with accent

  9. Cross Basic w/ Lady's Inside Turn (2&34&1 234&1) Guapacha timing

  10. New York LSP (234&1) w/ Ronde Chasse

  11. Alemana (234&1) switch hand to RH to RH.

  12. Advanced Hip Twist (234&1 234&1) w/ Lady's Inside Spiral Turn into Fan position

  13. Hockey Stick (234&1 234&1) finish with Man forward lock, Lady back lock

  14. Open Basic (234&1)

  15. Natural Top (234&1 234&1) with Lady's Inside Turn on chasses

  16. Follow My Leader (234&1 234&1 234&1) last chasse lady L turn finish Fan Position

  17. Alemana (234&1 234&1)

  18. New York LSP (234&1) finish with Lady's Spiral on 1

  19. Aida w/ Rock and Spot Turn finish (234&1 234&1 234&1)

  20. Turkish Towel (234&1 234&1 234&1 234&1 234&1 234&1) ending in open single hand hold

Repeat from Open Basic.

Cha Cha Cha Gold Routine #2 (*)

Start: Man weight on LF, Lady weight on RF, LF point to side

  1. 41 234&1: 41: Lady: L hip roll to L; 2: Lady weight on RF, 3: LF draw arc on floor and closes to RF, L knee drape over R knee, no step; 4&1: Lady spot Man, three step turn to L, ending facing Man.

  2. Syncopated New York LF and RF (2&3 4&1)

  3. New York (234&1) w/ Ronde Chasse (RF sharp to side), Lady spiral to L on 1

  4. Aida (234&1 2- Lady collect center, wind up to L to turn 90 to R onto RF, RF almost in place, L leg point to side, weight more fwd to front of foot, 3-turn 90 to L, 4&1 fwd locks, 234&1 spot turn, lady 90 less turn

  5. Cross Basic (2a34&1 234&1) 2 turns for Lady, back lock finish

  6. Open Basic Movement (234&1) to get into Natural Top

  7. Natural Top (234&1 2-Lady L Under Arm Turn, 34&1 Spiral to L 234&1) ending in Fan position

  8. Alemana (234&1 234&1) last chasse, Lady fwd lock

  9. Follow My Leader (234&1 2 - Lady, general curve: 2: RF fwd, then only 90 to L on &, not 1/2 turn; then 3: LF fwd, 90 to L, 4&1 lock fwd, 2&: 1/2 turn to R, pressed R leg, 34&1 Lady 2 turns) ending in Fan position. All small steps.

  10. Hockey Stick (234&1 23 Lady tap, 4&1 side chasse) to get on same foot as Man

  11. Cuban Break LF (2&3&4&1)

  12. Cuban Break RF (2&3&4&1)

  13. Spot Turn To R (234&1)

  14. Side step w/ Guapacha timing (2a34&1)

  15. Basic w/ Ronde Chasse and Hip Twist Chasse (234&1 234&1)

  16. Cuban Break LF (2&3&4&1) for Lady, get back to closed position with Man.

  17. Cross Basic (234&1 234&1) - another turn on 4&1 end facing partner

Repeat from New York (234&1) w/ Ronde Chasse.