Ballroom/ Nightclub Cha Cha - how are they different?

[KevinL]

How are ballroom and nightclub Cha Cha different? One of the local salsa teachers is going to be teaching nightclub style cha cha, but I don't really know how it's different from what I teach. How are they different?

[dragon3085]

Ballroom Cha cha cha always does the cha's on the 4&1 beats of the music and also will move both side to side and backwards in forward. Nightclub Cha Cha depending on who is teaching it, will concentrate on going back and forth (remember its trying to take into account a crowded dancefloor) and many instructors will teach doing the Cha Chas on the I believe on the 2&3 but I could be wrong- I just know its not the 4&1 syncopation we do in ballroom. Best I can do for now- hope this helps a little.

Patrick

[etchuck]

I would like to see what is meant by night club cha cha (cha) vs. country-western cha-cha and how it compares to ballroom American or ballroom international cha-cha...

Depends on how you learned things... but I always start my American cha-cha-cha with a side chasse while in International I am dancing down a "slot" (forward/back).

But I'm sure there are differences, but someone's going to have to show me... and that means someone's going to have to stop me from dancing cha-cha during a salsa dance... which would be extremely difficult to do (since the floor opens up a lot more since not that many salsa people know cha-cha apparently).

[dragon3085]

I start my Cha Cha to the side as well I don't really do international style though so can't comment on that part. The C/W Cha Cha here in Texas all seem to do what is essentially american style it just look a tad slower, and of course the latin rythmn to the music is not there.

Don't you find the Salsas a little fast for Cha Cha's? Or are the really playing a cha cha and the dancer are just doing salsa because they don't know cha cha?

Patrick

[etchuck]

Well, yeah, I don't try to dance cha-cha to salsa (if that's what you mean). :)

It's just that when the DJ plays a cha-cha during a salsa dance, it's a nice "break" for most people since the cha-cha would be slightly slower. However, for me (a ballroomer), I welcome a change in tempo, not to mention a more open floor to do more social steps I know.

[AnnieMarie]

This is what I understand from my coaches. I am a competitve Country WEstern Dancer. One coach is a UCWDC Masters champion and my other coach was in ballroom for a long time.

C/W Cha Cha is a mix of the American and International styles. This is what I have been told. And it's much slower than what most ballroom dancers are used to.

As my coaches say, American Cha Cha went out with International Cha Cha. If they had a child it would be CW Cha Cha.

[dragon3085]

This is what I understand from my coaches. I am a competitve Country WEstern Dancer. One coach is a UCWDC Masters champion and my other coach was in ballroom for a long time.

C/W Cha Cha is a mix of the American and International styles. This is what I have been told. And it's much slower than what most ballroom dancers are used to.

As my coaches say, American Cha Cha went out with International Cha Cha. If they had a child it would be CW Cha Cha.

Yeah having watched those guys, I can see how the can say that, It looks like it incorporates stuff from both styles. However for me personally, if it ain't got a latin component musically it just does feel like Cha Cha.

[Sagitta]

Here's a good thread on this topic...cha cha cha anyone? (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3063&highlight=club+cha+cha+ballroom)


Another thread is...Cha Cha Rhythm at Nightclubs (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=254&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=club+cha+cha&start=30)

[Vince A]

This is what I understand from my coaches. I am a competitve Country WEstern Dancer. One coach is a UCWDC Masters champion and my other coach was in ballroom for a long time.

C/W Cha Cha is a mix of the American and International styles. This is what I have been told. And it's much slower than what most ballroom dancers are used to.

As my coaches say, American Cha Cha went out with International Cha Cha. If they had a child it would be CW Cha Cha.

Yeah having watched those guys, I can see how the can say that, It looks like it incorporates stuff from both styles. However for me personally, if it ain't got a latin component musically it just does feel like Cha Cha.

I agree with both of you . . .I also do competitive CW cha cha, but have a very Latin-influenced look to it.

I do the "break" step on 2 going forward (on my L foot) . . . remembering what one very high-ranking judge once told me about cha cha:

"Count 2 is on the upbeat, and as a leader, you should be controlling the follower according to the music. So, if ct2 IS on the upbeat, you need to be moving forward, and never backwards (or down) to an upbeat. She (the judge) also said, that this would be one of the areas that she would give extra points - seeing the leader moving forward on the upbeat at the beginning of the song. She only has to use her peripheral vision to see what couple is moving at the start of the song, then she would key in on this couple to award the extra points. And "no," she doesn't deduct points if they don't do this!

[dragon3085]

As my coaches say, American Cha Cha went out with International Cha Cha. If they had a child it would be CW Cha Cha.

Hey upon reading this again, Looks like International is a pretty easy date, if its having American's child after just going out and not getting married. Sound like they needed to use some protection there.. ;-) sorry could not resist...

[AnnieMarie]

How do you know they weren't having a long term relationship? LOL.

Cha Cha is proving to be one of my most challenging dances right now. Right after the Waltz :)

[Vince A]

The Waltz in mine . . .

[SDsalsaguy]

Just one additional point -- club cha cha rarely, if ever, uses a real lock step; sometimes only a minimal shuffle at best, but never a full lock into and out of the Latin Cross position required be competitive Latin ballroom.

[Sagitta]

How are ballroom and nightclub Cha Cha different? One of the local salsa teachers is going to be teaching nightclub style cha cha, but I don't really know how it's different from what I teach. How are they different?

Just think about what the purpose of ballroom and club dancing is and where they are done. For instance, ballroom has lots of space, while clubs tend to be more crowded with space at a premium. Some generalizations...

Ballroom cha cha is sharp/volume occupying. Dramatic showy movements are common.

Night club or club cha cha is flowing and doesn't require as much space. There isn't the emphasis of crisp movements that we see in ballroom. Even something as simple as a NYer, isn't as dramatic as that is not the purpose of doing the cha cha in a club. The shuffle is done for the cha cha cha, and even the rock step may be step step....

[johnnywalker]

Just one additional point -- club cha cha rarely, if ever, uses a real lock step; sometimes only a minimal shuffle at best, but never a full lock into and out of the Latin Cross position required be competitive Latin ballroom.

When I first started Ballroom (American Social) I was taught to start with a forward step on my left foot. When I moved to International I had to change weight from my left foot to my right foot and then step forward. As with what SD said, we were never taught to lock in Social and with the back step in the basic the front leg was bent with the heel off the ground and toes pointed down. In International the heel remained on the ground.

Even something as simple as a NYer, isn't as dramatic as that is not the purpose of doing the cha cha in a club. The shuffle is done for the cha cha cha, and even the rock step may be step step....

International is definitely 'crisper' or 'sharper.' There is a definite pause or hold on the 1 before stepping on two whereas Social is a continuous movement. As Sagitta pointed out, they're different due to purpose; one is for a social atmosphere and the other more for competition (from what I believe).