Cha Cha Cha Routine for Beginners: Every Step and Count

The short answer: this is a short Cha Cha Cha routine for beginners that links the core beginner figures into one flowing sequence: Closed Basics, New Yorkers, Spot Turns, an Open Basic, three Cha Cha Chas forward, the Alemana, and Hand to Hands with a lock in Promenade and Counter Promenade. You see it danced in full, then every figure named, then the count for each, then once more to dance along with.

What is in this Cha Cha Cha routine?

The video has four parts. First the full routine, danced through. From 0:51 I name every figure as we dance it, with the names on screen. From 2:11 I count the timing for each figure, and from 3:20 there's one more run-through for you to dance along with.

The routine has two sections. The first finishes with the Alemana. The second uses the Hand to Hand to both sides, so you dance the same idea to the right and then to the left.

How do you count Cha Cha Cha?

Most figures are counted 2, 3, 4-and-1. The 4-and-1 is the cha-cha-cha chasse. The routine starts from closed position with a Preparation Step, counted 4-and-1, and I count every figure out loud in the timing section.

What steps are in the beginner Cha Cha Cha routine?

1. Preparation Step: from closed position.
2. 2 Closed Basic Movements
3. New Yorkers: to Left Side Position, to Right Side Position, then to Left Side Position again.
4. Spot Turn to the left
5. Open Basic: steps 1 to 7.
6. 3 Cha Cha Chas forward
7. Alemana: to finish the first section.
8. Hand to Hand to Right Side Position: then turn into Promenade, lock down the room and Chasse to the left.
9. New Yorker to Right Side Position and Spot Turn to the right
10. Hand to Hand to Left Side Position: then a lock in Counter Promenade and Chasse to the right.
11. New Yorker to Left Side Position and Spot Turn to the left: then start again.

Common mistakes

• Learning the figure names without the count. Every figure has its own timing, so learn the steps and the count together.
• Only practising the second section to one side. It's danced to the right and then to the left, so practise both.
• Trying to dance along at full speed before you can walk through each section slowly.

Try this in your next practice

Watch the figure names section one part at a time and walk each figure slowly. Then count along with the timing section out loud, 2, 3, 4-and-1. When you can dance it all the way through, join in with the final run-through from 3:20.

Frequently asked questions

Is this Cha Cha Cha routine good for beginners?

Yes. It's built from beginner Cha Cha Cha figures, and every figure and count is shown in the video.

How do you count Cha Cha Cha?

Most figures are counted 2, 3, 4-and-1, with the 4-and-1 as the cha-cha-cha chasse.

What do LSP, RSP, PP and CPP mean?

Left Side Position, Right Side Position, Promenade Position and Counter Promenade Position. They're the partner positions used in this routine.

How fast is Cha Cha Cha music?

WDSF competition rules set Cha Cha Cha at 30 to 32 bars a minute.

What should I learn after this routine?

My Cha Cha Cha basic and advanced routine uses many of the same figures, then adds an advanced version with Cuban Breaks, a Ronde and a Hockey Stick ending.

Related lessons

• Cha Cha Cha basic and advanced routine with Hockey Stick
• Cha Cha Cha basic and advanced routine with Cross Basics
• How to dance Cha Cha Cha forward and backward locks
• Cha Cha Cha Cuban Break with Double Take

Vaughan Liddicoat is a 4 time World Professional 10 Dance representative for Australia, an accredited coach and the founder of Ballroom Mastery. He has a passion for dance and wants to help you become the best dancer you can be and have an amazing time doing it.