Mambo - Cha Cha Cha

The basic conga drum pattern is the pulse of the Latin rhythm section. Usually accents the 2 and a light bang on the 3 and open tones on the 4 and - light on the one. The old time dancers never worried about what count to start. They broke - rock step - on the accented tone. Later in the US, the music was accented on the one count, European style and they broke on the one. So the break for dancers has been on the accent (da moosic) not on the count.

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In Mambo, the rock step was on the 2 and 3 count and the slow was on the 4, 1. In Cha Cha Cha the inherited rock step was on the 2 and 3 count and the Chassé was on the four and one. Of course this was danced a little different when they began to accent on the one count American Style. Now you broke (rock step) on the 1 and 2 count, with the slow on the 3 - 4. In the Cha Cha Cha you broke on the one count (rock step) and 2, and you Chasséed on the 3 and 4.

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Of course the fun really began when musicians began to accent the three count. This acquired the name of San Juan. (Puerto Rico?) The rock step was on 3, 4 and the Chassé was on the 1 and 2. Later on still, they accented the 4 count. It then acquired the name Guapacha. The rock step on the 4, 1 and the Chassé was on the 2 and 3. Come on folks lets keep this simple and easy. The best Cha Cha Cha music is with the accent on the 2. We break there (da bode of us) and we can enjoy moving to the music.

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