Three Cha Cha Chas

Three Cha Cha Chas (Lock Step)

The Three Cha Cha Chas a Newcomer Level figure. This online reference gives a detailed description of the different variation of the dance steps, including timing, hand hold; 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.

9 Steps. Timing is: 4&1, 2&3, 4&1

Hold:

• • Normal Hold

  • L to R hand hold

  • Low double hand hold

  • Alternating Pat-A-Cake hold

  • No hold

Position: can be danced in either Closed Position or Open Position

Leader

When Leader is doing Three Cha Cha Chas Forward, Follower is doing Three Cha Cha Chas Back.

• 2: RF back

• 3: LF replace

  • At end of "3": twist

• 4: RF latin cross in front LF

  • Side lead, start Three Cha Cha Chas Forward

• &: LF locks behind RF

  • LF knee to the spot. Then, release R knee, L knee straight, step RF into next step.

• 1: RF steps directly under R shoulder, on center line

  • 2 separate tracks; at the end, twist to R, side lead

  • Pat-A-Cake hand change: Man direct plane movement, rotate palm.

• 2 & 3: LF Latin Cross; RF lock, LF forward

  • Track LF before stepping LF into Latin Cross position

• 4 & 1: RF Latin Cross; LF lock, RF forward

  • Continue with Three Cha Cha Chas Back (see Lady's steps).

Follower

• 2: LF forward check

• 3: RF replace

• 4: LF tracking through, step into Latin Cross behind RF

  • Side lead. start Three Cha Cha Chas Back

  • Imagine to have sternum face partner, open up half of chest and turn it to the side (this is the same as in New York).

  • Arm: make it more snappy, diagonal back, high.

• &: RF slide back

• 1: LF back on central line again, 2 tracks

  • Styling option: At the end, finish arm, wrapping LH behind head before coming down (pat-a-cake) switch hand with Man.

• 2 & 3: RF Latin Cross back; LF lock in front; RF back

• 4 & 1: LF Latin Cross back; RF lock in front; LF back

Variation: Lady's Overturned Lockstep

• Hand hold: Man's LH to Lady's RH

• 2: LF forward check

• 3: RF replace | Spiral to L

  • At the end "&", Man left side back, side is attached to his elbow, over turn lady to her L, Lady's LF in spiral position.

  • Lady's upper R arm should still be connected to the side of her body, don't over rotate. turns 90, not 180.

• 4: LF forward

  • Cha Cha Forward lock

  • Styling: arm extend to side on the plane; or keep arm on hip all the time.

• &: RF locks behind LF

• 1: LF forward | Turn to R

  • At the end "&": turn to R to face partner again, prepare to step RF back to do back lock.

• 2 & 3: RF Latin Cross back; LF lock in front; RF back | Spiral to L

  • Back lock, then spiral to L, overturn, at the end of "3&"

• 4 & 1: LF forward, RF locks behind, LF forward

  • Repeat forward lock.

  • At the every end, turn to R to face partner again.

Variation: Three Cha Cha Chas Back (for Man)

• Man: 3 backward Locks starting with LF.

• Lady: 3 forward Locks starting RF

Variation: Three Cha Cha Chas Forward (for Man)

• • Man: 3 forward Locks starting with RF.

    1. when changing foot, turn the ribs (do not swing legs)

  • Lady: 3 backward Locks starting LF

Variation: Three Cha Cha Chas Forward In Right Side Position (RSP)

Preceding step: Step 1, 2 of Hand to Hand to RSP.

• Man: 3 forward Locks starting with LF.

• Lady: 3 forward Locks starting RF

Last 3 steps can be danced as a side chasse, after turning to face partner.

Variation: Three Cha Cha Chas Forward In Left Side Position (LSP)

Preceding step: Step 1, 2 of Hand to Hand to LSP.

• Man: 3 forward Locks starting with RF.

• Lady: 3 forward Locks starting LF

Last 3 steps can be danced as a side chasse, after turning to face partner.

1. Three Cha Cha Chas Back 4&1 2&3 4&1 LF

Three Cha Cha Chas Back - Preceding Figures

1. Basic Movement In Place

2. Closed Basic Movement

3. Open Basic Movement

Three Cha Cha Chas Back - Following Figures

1. Closed Basic Movement (6-10; or 6-7, then into Three Chas Cha Chas Forward)

2. Open Basic Movement (6-10; or 6-7, then into Three Chas Cha Chas Forward)

3. Fan (6-10)

4. Alemana (6-10)

5. Natural Top (Man last step LF side turning slightly R, Lady RF fwd)

Three Cha Cha Chas Forward - Preceding Figures

1. Advanced Hip Twist

2. Aida

3. Alemana

4. Basic Movement In Place

5. Closed Basic Movement

6. Closed Hip Twist

7. Curl

8. Hand To Hand LSP

9. Hand To Hand RSP

10. Hip Twist Spiral

11. Hockey Stick

12. New York LSP

13. New York RSP

14. Open Basic Movement

15. Open Hip Twist

16. Rope Spinning

17. Shoulder To Shoulder Left Side

18. Shoulder To Shoulder Right Side

19. Spiral

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

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

22. Underarm Turn To R

Three Cha Cha Chas Forward - Following Figures

1. Cross Basic (Three ChaChas Fwd in LSP, man starting on RF ending facing partner)

2. Aida (Three ChaChas Fwd in RSP, man starting on LF ending facing partner)

3. Side Step To Right commenced with RF (Three ChaChas Fwd in RSP, man starting on LF ending facing partner)

4. Side Step To Right commenced with LF (Three ChaChas Fwd in LSP, man starting on RF ending facing partner)

5. Side Step To Left commenced with RF (Three ChaChas Fwd in RSP, man starting on LF ending facing partner)

6. Side Step To Left commenced with LF (Three ChaChas Fwd in LSP, man starting on RF ending facing partner)

7. There And Back (Three ChaChas Fwd in LSP, man starting on RF ending facing partner)

8. Hand To Hand RSP (Three ChaChas Fwd in LSP, man starting on RF ending facing partner)

9. Hand To Hand LSP (Three ChaChas Fwd in RSP, man starting on LF ending facing partner)

10. Closed Basic Movement

11. Open Basic Movement

12. Fan

13. Alemana

14. Open Hip Twist

15. Curl

16. Chase (when Three Cha Cha Chas are danced in Open Position)

17. Turkish Towel

18. Sweetheart

19. Follow My Leader (when Three Cha Cha Chas are danced in Open Position)

20. New York RSP (when danced in RSP, last three steps may be danced as a side chasse after Man and Lady turn to face partner and end in Closed Position)

21. Spot or Switch Turn To L (Lady to R) (when danced in RSP, last three steps may be danced as a side chasse after Man and Lady turn to face partner and end in Closed Position)

22. New York LSP (when danced in LSP, last three steps may be danced as a side chasse after Man and Lady turn to face partner and end in Closed Position)

23. Spot or Switch Turn To R (Lady to L) (when danced in LSP, last three steps may be danced as a side chasse after Man and Lady turn to face partner and end in Closed Position)