Side Chasse

The side chasse is a foundational element of the Cha-cha-cha, a dance that emerged in the early 1950s from the Afro-Cuban communities of Havana ^[1]. Developed from the Danzón-mambo and the Cuban Triple Mambo, the dance gained international prominence after being documented by Pierre Lavelle ^[1]. The chasse, pronounced "sha-SAY," functions as a lateral movement where one foot effectively chases the other, creating the distinctive triple-step rhythm ^[1]. Mechanically, this figure involves a side step followed by a closing step and a final side step, occupying the "cha-cha-cha" portion of the rhythm. The movement is executed with compact steps and Cuban motion, which involves specific hip and pelvic actions that differentiate it from other Latin styles ^[1]. Dancers typically perform this figure on the 4-&-1 or 2-&-3 counts, depending on the specific timing convention used within the broader 4/4 musical structure. Because the Cha-cha-cha relies on this syncopated footwork to maintain its characteristic shuffle, the side chasse is essential for transitioning between forward and backward breaks.