Cha Cha Dance to the Tune of Sensual and Energetic Music

Many of us can easily recognize the cha cha dance by simply listening to the music being played on the background. By definition, cha cha is a slightly fast rhythmic dance of Latin American origin consisting of three standard steps and a hip-swaying shuffle. Yet somehow the most distinctive quality of the dance is not found in steps but rather in the beat by which it is being danced to.

The music of the this dance, as originally composed by Enrique Jorrin, is consist of a 4/4 beat. DI's or dance instructors often translate this beat as "slow-slow-quick-quick-slow" or "step-step-chacha-step". However, as the dance is periodically being reintroduced, the music of this dance is starting to get influenced by mainstream genres, particularly Latin pop. It is not uncommon these days to see a pair dancing to the tune of a popular pop song. The current renditions of the this type of music actually hyped up the dance, so to speak.

Today, any kind of songs which resemble the rhythm and tempo of cha cha can be used as dance music. In fact, any music with a workable 4/4 measure and a sensual feel is allowed to be used by even the veteran dancers. Most dancers believe that their own music choices can help in improving their craft through enhanced creativity as dancing to varied tempos involves a lot of fancy cha cha skills.

The cha cha dance music in this disco-crazed era can be anything from Latin pop to radio-friendly tunes, so long as it works around the 4/4 beat. It can be slow or fast, and can also have vocals and a variety of musical effects. Here are some of the popular picks by dancing enthusiasts:

"Smooth"- This is a collaborative song by Latin rock guitarist Carlos Santana and, Matchbox Twenty's, Rob Thomas. It has achieved huge popularity in cha cha that even Toni Braxton and her partner in "Dancing with the Stars" had used this song for their number.

"Sway"- A mildly syncopated cha cha music sung by Michael Bublé. This song is perfect for emphasizing sensuality in the movements, particularly the part which involves the hip.

"Angelina"- An upbeat and fast-paced dance song by Lou Bega, the man behind the chart-topping "Mambo No. 5". As if the music wasn't enough to describe the mood, the lyrics also have the word "cha cha" all throughout the song.

"Let's Get Loud"- A disco-friendly dance hit popularized by Jennifer Lopez. Combination movements are usually applied to this type of dance.

Adam J Reynold writes about the Cha Cha Dance and other Ballroom Dances.


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