Charleston Dance

The “Charleston” is a multi-faceted cultural phenomenon that arose during the early 1920s. It’s a dance, it’s a tune, and it’s a set of lyrics (which most people have never heard). The Charleston, also apparently of African origin and characterized by [a] tom-tom beat, is described as the wing of the buck and wing dance, only the dancer steps forward and backward instead of sideways. Usually, it is done without musical accompaniment and with the clapping of hands in a two-four time.

Jarabe Tapatio

The jarabe Tapatío is a Mexican folk dance, often called the national dance of Mexico, and better known internationally as the Mexican hat dance. Despite its rather innocent steps by today’s standards (dancers do not touch one another), early 19th century colonial authorities found the moves too sexually suggestive and even challenging to Spanish rule.During the dance, the man’s sombrero is placed on the ground, and after lively hopping, sliding and kicking around the sombrero, the woman bends to pick up the hat, at which point the man kicks his leg over her head. Needless to say, timing and careful choreography are important. Then the performance closes when she holds the hat up and both dancers’ faces disappear behind it, leaving captivated audiences to assume that the two are finally confirming mutual romantic interest and sealing it with a kiss.

The Cha Cha Cha

The Cha Cha Cha (often shortened to just Cha Cha) is a Latin dance that originated in Cuba, in the late 1940s. It is derived from 3 earlier dance styles: Danzón - The Cuban National Dance, popular in 1890s - 1920s The Cuban Són - Mix of African instruments into Danzón music Triple mambo - Marriage of Cuban Son & Swing. The Cha Cha Cha is sort of like a quick Mambo, with the addition of triple steps. The mambo steps to the counts of 2, 3, 4. Because no footwork happens on the count of 1, it became popular to dance a triple step within those 2 counts. The sound of the dance heels doing the triple step, created a "Cha Cha Cha" sound, which then became the name of the dance! Hence, the basic Cha Cha foot rhythm of 1, 2, 3, 4 & 1, is born.