Cha Cha Newyork and Hand to Hand Steps

In today's (ninth) class, we added two new steps to Cha Cha, the Newyork and Hand to Hand steps. Both steps have same count as Cha Cha, i.e., 2-3-Cha-Cha-1-2-3-Cha-Cha-1. During practice, we were asked to do two basics, then two Newyork steps and finally two Hand to Hand steps.

Details of Newyork step:

0 – Male partner starts with weight on right leg and left leg inline (horizontally stretched around a foot away).

2 – We pick up left leg and place it in right of right leg (not much far), rotating 90 degrees clockwise. Our view line also shifts by 90 degrees. Our view line is same as to where our left foot has gone. During this step, weight is shifted to left leg and right leg heels gets up. Our right leg also slides by 90 degrees, with right leg's forefoot acting as a pivot.

3 – Right leg is twisted back counter-clockwise by 90 degrees, heel starts touching dance floor and weight is shifted on it.

Cha – This is a quick step where we pick up and bring back left leg close to right leg (basic Cha step). Our view line also comes back to initial direction. Weight is shifted from right leg to left leg and the whole left foot touches the dance floor.

Cha – This is a again a quick step, where we shift right leg sideways such that it starts touching left leg. The whole foot touches the dance floor. Weight is shifted from left leg to right leg.

Cha/1 – Here we shift the left leg sideways by more than a feet, in-line to right leg. The whole foot touches the ground. Weight is shifted from right leg to left leg.

2 – We follow above four steps again, but with other foot. We pick up right leg and place it in left of left leg (not much far), rotating 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Our view line also shifts by 90 degrees. During this step, weight is shifted to right leg and left leg heels gets up. Our left leg also slides by 90 degrees, with left leg's forefoot as a pivot.

3 – Left leg is twisted back clockwise by 90 degrees, with heel coming back on ground and weight is shifted on it.

Cha – This is a quick step where we bring back right leg, and place it around 3 inches away from left leg (in-line). Our view line also comes back to initial direction. The whole foot touches the ground. Weight is shifted from left to right leg.

Cha – This is a again a quick step, where we shift left leg sideways such that it starts touching right leg. The whole foot touches the ground. Weight is shifted from right to left leg.

Cha/1 – Here we shift the right leg sideways by more than a feet, in-line to left leg. The whole foot touches the ground. Weight is shifted from left to right leg.

Details of Hand to Hand step:

0 – We start with weight on right leg and left leg inline (horizontally stretched around a foot away).

2 – We pick up left leg and place it in right of right leg (not much far), but this time we rotate counter-clockwise (backwards). Our view line also shifts by 90 degrees, but now it is opposite to where our left foot has gone. During this step, weight is shifted to left leg and right leg heels gets up. Our right leg also slides by 90 degrees, with right leg's forefoot acting as a pivot.

3 – Right leg is twisted back clockwise by 90 degrees and weight is shifted on it.

Cha – This is a quick step where we pick up and bring back left leg close to right leg (basic Cha step). Our view line also comes back to initial direction. Weight is shifted from right leg to left leg and the whole left foot touches the ground.

Cha – This is a again a quick step, where we shift right leg sideways such that it starts touching left leg. The whole foot touches the ground. Weight is shifted from left leg to right leg.

Cha/1 – Here we shift the left leg sideways by more than a feet, in-line to right leg. The whole foot touches the ground. Weight is shifted from right leg to left leg.

2 – We follow above four steps again, but with other foot. We pick up right leg and place it in left of left leg (not much far), rotating clockwise (again backwards). Our view line also shifts by 90 degrees, but in opposite direction of our right leg movement. During this step, weight is shifted to right leg and left leg heels gets up. Our left leg also slides by 90 degrees, with left leg's forefoot as a pivot.

3 – Left leg is twisted back counter-clockwise by 90 degrees and weight is shifted on it.

Cha – This is a quick step where we bring back right leg, and place it around 3 inches away from left leg (in-line). Our view line also comes back to initial direction. The whole foot touches the ground. Weight is shifted from left to right leg.

Cha – This is a again a quick step, where we shift left leg sideways such that it starts touching right leg. The whole foot touches the ground. Weight is shifted from right to left leg.

Cha/1 – Here we shift the right leg sideways by more than a feet, in-line to left leg. The whole foot touches the ground. Weight is shifted from left to right leg.