Ballroom Blitz #062

Time Steps in Cha Cha - Aug 28, 2023

Transcript

Ian: Why hello there random dancer on the internet. My name's Ian,

Lindsey: and my name's Lindsey,

Ian & Lindsey: and this is a Ballroom Blitz!

Lindsey: Hello there beautiful dancers, welcome back to Ballroom Blitz. Today we are in the Latin world we are looking at Cha Cha and the figure is Time Steps. Now this one is a super simple one, it's not going to take any time at all for you to pick it up. It's following our regular Cha Cha rhythm, no turn involved, nice and simple let's have a look.

[Demonstration without music]

Lindsey: So, as you can see nice and simple. Our Step-Rock is still in place, but it's right underneath us. We go into a Cuban cross on the first step, replace our weight, and then ready for our Chasse action to the side. And if the leader is doing it on their left foot to start, followers are on their right; both of them tucking behind though.

Usually when, say I'm a follower and I'm ready on my right foot, usually if I am facing my partner I might be ready to take a backward step, not a huge step but you can see that I have traveled. We don't want to do that in our Time Step, we want it to be right up underneath us. So the move is, there. You can see if I turn this way that I've sort of crossed my feet into a T. Now, when your work is right up underneath you, it can become very easy to not quite transfer your weight; it can sort of turn into a tap, we don't want that. We still want the transfer of weight and you'll really notice your hips start to move in order to make it quite obvious to yourself, and your feet, and your muscles, that you have in fact taken those two steps there. So, with the timing we've got Two Three Four-and-One and then on the other foot I'm now tucking my left Two Three Four-and-One.

[Demonstration with Counts]

[Demonstration with Music]

Lindsey: So the steps are exactly the same for the lead and follow it just depends what foot you're ready on. Now, you may have noticed before when Ian and I were dancing together we didn't have any hold, usually in Cha Cha we've got some kind of a hold, this particular move is what we call a visual led. So, part of it is that we don't need, we don't require any kind of hold at all, I can see what Ian is doing himself and I follow suit.

And that's all there is to Time Steps. So, give them a go, very easy to lead into and have some fun. Get going with the arms they are free to do whatever styling you like. So, dance it up have a great time we'll see you next time.