How to Dance Cha Cha Cha Forward and Backward Locks

cha cha cha footwork hip action latin technique

The short answer: a Cha Cha Cha lock is a chassé that travels forward or back, with the feet crossing on the middle step. It's counted 4-and-1, like every Cha Cha Cha chassé. To dance locks easily at any speed, build them in layers: clear footwork and foot positions first, then hip action, then rib cage motion and shoulder weight. And learn to unlock, not just to lock.

What is a lock in Cha Cha Cha?

A lock is a chassé that moves forward or back. The three quick steps go forward, lock, forward (or back, lock, back), so the feet cross on the middle step. Like every Cha Cha Cha chassé, it's counted 4-and-1, with the lock on the "and".

Why are Cha Cha Cha locks so hard to dance in time?

Cha Cha Cha is quick. WDSF competition rules set it at 30 to 32 bars a minute, and the lock has to fit three steps into the 4-and-1. In the lesson I show you the real reason locks are so hard to dance to the music, and the technique that fixes it, so you can dance them at any speed and in any Cha Cha Cha figure.

How do you build a better Cha Cha Cha lock?

In the video I build the forward and backward lock in layers, from beginner to pro:

Footwork: the exact footwork, including the unlocking technique that's rarely taught.
Foot positions: exactly where each foot is placed.
Hip action: used in relation to your footwork and foot positions, not on its own.
Rib cage motion.
Shoulder weight and upper body rhythm: the layers that make the lock look effortless.

Common mistakes

Treating the lock as a foot movement only, with no hip action or upper body rhythm.
Adding hip and rib cage actions before the footwork and foot positions are clear.
Learning how to lock but never learning how to unlock.

Try this in your next practice

Dance a few forward and backward locks with footwork only. When the feet feel automatic, add the hip action, then the rib cage, then the shoulders, one layer at a time. Then take the same locks into a figure from your routine.

Frequently asked questions

How fast is Cha Cha Cha music?

WDSF competition rules set Cha Cha Cha at 30 to 32 bars a minute.

How do you count a Cha Cha Cha lock?

The same way as a chassé: 4-and-1, with the feet crossing on the "and".

Where does the name Cha Cha Cha come from?

It imitates the shuffling sound of the dancers' feet. The music was introduced by the Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín in the early 1950s.

Can I use these locks in other figures?

Yes. The same technique works in any Cha Cha Cha figure that uses a lock. My Cha Cha Cha basic routine, for example, uses the Forward Lock twice.

Is this lesson suitable for beginners?

Yes. It starts with basic footwork and builds up to advanced body actions, so beginners and experienced dancers can both use it.

Related lessons

Vaughan Liddicoat is a 4 time World Professional 10 Dance representative for Australia, an accredited coach and the founder of Ballroom Mastery. He has a passion for dance and wants to help you become the best dancer you can be and have an amazing time doing it.

Fix one thing in your dancing every week.

Most dancers practise for years without knowing what's really holding them back. The Mastery Letter is my free weekly letter that shows you, one clear lesson at a time.

Every week you get one lesson, one tip and one story from me, a 4 time World Professional 10 Dance representative for Australia. Ballroom and Latin, from frame and footwork to timing and hip action.

It takes under five minutes to read, so you can take it straight into your next practice.

Enter your email below. Edition 1 is yours as soon as you confirm.

Free. Unsubscribe any time. Your email is never shared or sold.