A. Forward-Backward Basic
(Start and end in closed position or 2-handed open position.)
Man
1. Forward LF 2
2. Change weight back on RF 3
3. Back LF cha
4. Back RF cha
5. Back LF cha
6. Back RF 2
7. Change weight forward to L 3
8. Forward RF cha
9. Forward LF cha
10.Forward RF cha
Lady
1. Back RF 2
2. Change weight forward on LF 3
3. Forward RF cha
4. Forward LF cha
5. Forward RF cha
6. Forward LF 2
7. Change weight back on RF 3
8. Back LF cha
9. Back RF cha
10.Back LF cha
Repeat ad lib.
B. The Chair-Shaped Basic
(Start and end in closed position or 2-handed open position)
Man
1. Cross LF over RF 2
2. Change weight back on RF 3
3. Side LF cha
4. Close RF to LF cha
5. Side LF cha
6. Cross RF behind LF 2
7. Change weight forward on LF 3
8. Side RF cha
9. Close LF to RF cha
10.Side RF cha
Lady
1. Cross RF over LF 2
2. Change weight back on LF 3
3. Side RF cha
4. Close LF to RF cha
5. Side RF cha
6. Cross LF behind RF 2
7. Change weight forward on RF 3
8. Side LF cha
9. Close RF to LF cha
10.Side LF cha
Repeat ad lib.
Note: This often appears in International-style cha-cha, where in this case it is called the Basic Movement.
C. Side-to-Side Fifth Basic
(Start and end in closed position or 2-handed open position.)
Man
1. Cross LF behind RF 2
2. Change weight on to RF 3
3. Side LF cha
4. Close RF to LF cha
5. Side LF cha
6. Cross RF behind LF 2
7. Change weight on to LF 3
8. Side RF cha
9. Close LF to RF cha
10.Side RF cha
Lady
1. Cross RF behind LF 2
2. Change weight on to LF 3
3. Side RF cha
4. Close LF to RF cha
5. Side RF cha
6. Cross LF behind RF 2
7. Change weight on to RF 3
8. Side LF cha
9. Close RF to LF cha
10.Side LF cha
Repeat ad lib.
Notes:
A. The fifth position in ballet and jazz dance involves the back
foot's toes touching the front foot's heels. Some of the dance
teachers will call this the "fifth" for fifth position in that
above figure, which occurs on steps 1-2 and steps 6-7.
B. Make the side chassés on steps 3-5 and 8-10 small enough so
that there is not too much gap between the legs.
D. The Side-to-Side Fifth Basic with Lady's Outside UAT Finish
(Start and end in closed position or 2-handed open position)
Man
1. Cross LF behind RF 2
2. Change weight forward on RF 3
3. Side LF cha
4. Close RF to LF cha
5. Side LF, raising lady's R arm to lead her to turn R cha
6. Cross RF behind LF, lady's arm still up, turning it CCW 2
7. Change weight forward on LF, let lady's arm go down 3
8. Side RF, leading her to the L side by both of his arms cha
9. Close LF to RF cha
10.Side RF cha
Lady
1. Cross RF behind LF 2
2. Change weight forward on LF 3
3. Side RF cha
4. Close LF to RF cha
5. Side RF, preparing to turn R cha
6. Pivot LF halfway to the R under the man's R arm 2
7. Pivot RF halfway to the R and finish facing partner 3
8. Side LF, a slightly big step cha
9. Close RF to LF cha
10. Side LF cha
Repeat ad lib.
Notes:
A. The lady will make a 1/2 turn R on step 6 and another 1/2 turn
R on step 7 to finish facing the partner.
B. In the pivot turn, the foot that has weight makes a swiveling
action in the turn, and the unweighted foot goes around the
weighted foot about 1/8-1/4 inches from the floor with a quasi
ronde action so that this other foot will have weight as it
goes forward. Pivot turns are usually done on the spot; that
is, without progressive movement in the turns.
C. UAT - This stands for "Underarm Turn", that is, the leader of
the term raises the leader's arm so that the follower will turn
under the leader's arm.
D. The Outside Underarm Turn is known as the Arch Turn by some dance
teachers, especially if they have teaching in contra dancing and
square dancing.
E. Chair Basic with Pas de Bourreé Crosses
Man
1. Cross LF over RF 2
2. Change weight back on RF 3
3. Side LF cha
4. Cross RF over LF pas de bourrée cross cha
5. Side LF, uncrossing LF cha
6. Cross RF behind LF 2
7. Change weight forward on LF 3
8. Side RF cha
9. Cross LF over RF pas de bourrée cross cha
10.Side RF, uncrossing RF cha
Woman
1. Cross RF over LF 2
2. Change weight back on LF 3
3. Side RF cha
4. Cross LF over RF pas de bourrée cross cha
5. Side RF, uncrossing RF cha
6. Cross LF behind RF 2
7. Change weight forward on RF 3
8. Side LF cha
9. Cross RF over LF pas de bourrée cross cha
10.Side LF, uncrossing LF cha
Notes:
A. A pas de bourrée is a ballet move that is like a side chassé.
It has three steps like the ordinary side chassé, but on
the second step, the front leg crosses in front of the back
leg.
B. During the pas de bourrée, there will be a short hint of fifth
position on the second step. This is known as the Latin-cross
position, especially in International Latin dancing.
F. Contra-Crosses
(Begin preparing to lead lady into R side offset position in
normal hold and finish facing partner. If repeated, prepare to lead the lady into R side offset position in normal hold again.)
Man
1. Cross LF over RF, turning 1/4 R 2
2. Change weight back to RF 3
3. Side LF, facing partner cha
4. Close RF to LF cha
5. Side LF cha
6. Cross RF over LF, turning 1/4 L 2
7. Change weight back to LF 3
8. Side RF, facing partner again cha
9. Close cha
Lady
1. Cross RF over LF, turning 1/4 L 2
2. Change weight back to LF 3
3. Side RF, facing partner cha
4. Close LF to RF cha
5. Side RF cha
6. Cross LF over RF, turning 1/4 L 2
7. Change weight back to RF 3
8. Side LF, facing partner again cha
9. Close RF to LF cha
10.Side LF cha
Repeat ad lib.
Notes
A. The way to lead the contra-crosses so that the lady will turn
L on the first step is to move the lady's R arm to your left,
and at the same time, letting go of that arm with your L hand
and pulling the lady's L arm to your left so that she will
turn to the L first.
B. I call this contra-crosses because the word "contra" in Spanish
means "against". On steps 1-2, the man crosses to his right
and the lady to her left; on steps 6-7, the man crosses to his
left and the lady to her right(the "natural opposite" effect),
and they cross in opposite directions; therefore, the name
"contra-crosses".
C. R side offset position--means the man is offset way to the
right of the lady and the lady is offset also way to the right
(of the man), creating 2 pairs of imaginary opposite tracks.
D. In the first part of the move, the man and lady will be in Right
Contra Position; in the second part, Left Contra Position. Contra
Position is often used in modern International Samba dancing.