Mr. C developed the slide in 1996 as an aerobic workout for a trainer at Bally's Fitness. "It works your whole body," he said. "If you do the dance [properly], you'll feel it everywhere." Cha Cha Slide -- named after the Latin "Cha-Cha" step that is part of the dance -- became a hit with gym members and word of it quickly spread beyond the aerobics studio. Mr. C also found himself in the recording studio when the dance's popularity prompted him to record the CD, featuring his instructions over an infectious bass beat.

In 2001, the dance started to catch on in various parts of the USA, particularly in Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit and Houston where urban contemporary radio stations (and later mobile DJs) began playing the song. Request keep coming in and making Mr. C a hit! 

Mr. C says that dance is his "real calling," he refuses to accept the idea that it's passé. "People do still dance -- it's just time for them to get used to new dances. I'm trying to introduce that to them with the Cha Cha Slide."

How To Cha-Cha Real Smooth

"TO THE LEFT NOW": GRAPEVINE LEFT WITH TOUCH
1,2    Step LEFT to left side; Cross RIGHT behind Left
3,4    Step LEFT to left side; Touch RIGHT beside Left

"TAKE IT BACK NOW": STROLL BACK WITH TOUCH
1,2    Step back RIGHT; Step back LEFT
3,4    Step back RIGHT; Touch LEFT beside Right
(Option: try mashed potato steps back, or a rolling turn back)

"ONE HOP THIS TIME": HOP FORWARD
1       Hop forward on Right, hitching LEFT
(Option: if you don't like to hop you can scoot forward on both feet. The number of hops Casper will ask you to do will vary throughout the song)

"RIGHT FOOT LET'S STOMP": RIGHT STOMP FORWARD
1       With weight on Left stomp RIGHT forward
(Option: you can spread your arms to add attitude with each stomp)

"LEFT FOOT LET'S STOMP": LEFT STOMP FORWARD
1       With weight on Right stomp LEFT forward
(Option: you can spread your arms to add attitude with each stomp. The number of stomps Casper will ask you to do will vary)
 

"NOW CHA-CHA": JAZZ BOX (WITH ATTITUDE)
1,2   Cross RIGHT over Left; Step back LEFT
3,4   Step RIGHT to right side; Step forward LEFT
(Option: you can do mambo rocks, or anything else you feel fits. Casper will ask you twice or more so keep listening)

"TURN IT OUT" OR "LET'S GO TO WORK": ¼ TURN LEFT INTO GRAPEVINE RIGHT WITH TOUCH
1       Make ¼ turn left stepping RIGHT to right side
2-4     Cross LEFT behind Right; Step RIGHT to right side; Touch LEFT beside Right

"CLAP": HAND CLAPS
1-16   Clap your hands in time with the music
(Option: some people like walk around while doing their claps)

"KRIS KROSS": JUMP APART, JUMP & CROSS
1,2     Jump feet apart; Jump feet together crossing RIGHT over Left

"SLIDE TO THE LEFT": LEFT SLIDE
1,2     Step LEFT to left side; Slide RIGHT to touch beside Left
(In part of the track Casper will ask you to "reverse" the slide steps)

"SLIDE TO THE RIGHT": RIGHT SLIDE
1,2     Step RIGHT to right side; Slide LEFT to touch beside Right
(In part of the track Casper will ask you to "reverse" the slide steps)

"HOW LOW CAN YOU GO": LIMBO/TWIST DOWN
1-16   Limbo/twist down (make sure you can get up again)

"BRING IT TO THE TOP": STAND UP WAVING ARMS
1-16   Rise arms up waving to the beat

"HANDS ON YOUR KNEES": KNEE KNOCKS
1-8     Knock knees together, criss crossing hands on knees

"CHARLIE BROWN": CHARLIE BROWN
"Jazz Jump" (2 footed jump). In the Cha-cha Slide, the jumps can be forward and back, or from LEFT to RIGHT while nodding your head, or turning your head from side to side

"FREEZE": STRIKE A POSE
1       Strike a pose and freeze

BEGIN DANCE AGAIN

About the Author:
Daryl Thomas is Professional Mobile Disc Jockey and
As a former radio personality and club DJ, Mr. Thomas has successfully MC'd more than 1,625 eventsin the past 15 years.

© 2002 1-800-DISC JOCKEY, LLC  All Rights Reserved.