Ballroom dancer Katrina Burch sat down with Figure Skaters Online to explain the basics of the cha cha and waltz, which is the dance that Olympic Champion Evan Lysacek and partner Anna Trebunskaya will be performing on tonight’s episode of Dancing with the Stars. Team Evanna is contesting with four other couples.
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I think it’s rather lame of the DWTS to have Evan do Cha Cha the week after he did the team Cha Cha… I hope Anna can pull off the “futuristic” era. It worries me. Not to mention, Evan’s hips. Cuban action (the hip action) is so much harder for the men to learn than the females. So if you’re never moved your hips, it is a hard process to learn.
Cha Cha
Cha Cha Cha or “Cha Cha” as it is also know is a very fun, cheeky, flirty, and sexy dance. The basic count is “1, 2, Cha Cha Cha, 3, 4, Cha Cha Cha” This dance also hails from Cuba just like the Mambo and Rumba and is also a street dance. Look for side moves called (in international Latin) “New Yorkers”, as well as underarm turns, open spot turns, and sole movements in the basic step either to the side, diagonal, or front/Back. Just as with the other rhythm dances there should be lots of hip action for the girls and some for the guys but not a ton.
Riccardo Cocchi & Yulia Zagoruychenko are probably one of the best couples out there:
Waltz
In basic waltz, the basic is known as a Box because when you do the steps, you make a box. Counted in three, the waltz box has two parts, the forward box and backward box. Once you move forward in the dance, the lead will learn how to turn on certain steps so the box will start to look circular in nature. One of the most important things in waltz is the rise and fall. It should be smooth and steady and not jerking up and down like a pogo stick. Think of more of a gentle wave. Moves to look for include turns in both directions, promenades, and counter-checks.
Jonathan Roberts and wife Anna:
For what to look for in the other dances, please click here.
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