4. Crossover Breaks Forward

A Crossover Break is the quintessential and single most recognizable movement of Cha Cha. Many varieties of Crossover Breaks exist in the Cha Cha syllabus; This is the most fundamental version.

The position one associates with Crossover Breaks is man and lady standing side-by-side, with a single-hand hold. Partners can be in left side-by-side position (e.g. lady standing on man's left side), with the man's left hand holding lady's right, or in right side-by-side position (e.g. lady standing on man's left side), with the man's right hand holding lady's left.

A Crossover Break to Right is danced after a chasse to right (4&1) in closed or open facing position. The man releases his right hand from the lady, then turns 1/4 to right while using the LH-RH hold to lead the lady to turn 1/4 to her left, to end in left side-by-side position. From side-by-side position they dance a forward rock step -- man LF, lady RF (2,3). They then turn 1/4 in the opposite direction (man to left, lady to right) to return to open facing position, and follow with a chasse to left (4&1).

A Crossover Break to Left is the mirror image, taken after a chasse to left (4&1) in open facing position, and turning to right side-by-side position for the forward rock step on man's RF, lady's LF (2,3). It is followed by a chasse to right (4&1).

Note that the Crossover Break to Left can only be taken from open facing position because it requires a RH-LH hold. If beginning in closed hold, the man must release his right hand from the lady's back and take a RH-LH hold during the chasse to right (4&1) immediately preceding the Crossover Break.

Crossover Breaks Forward can be repeated as desired, alternating from left side to right side. They can be freely and easily combined with Crossover Back Breaks, Crossover Turns, 5th Position Breaks, Open Break, and Underarm Turns to right and left.

The first video demonstration shows Crossover Breaks danced twice to each side (left, right, left, right), beginning and ending in open facing position. The second video shows the same, but with man and lady dancing separately, with focus on legs and feet. The third video shows a typical combination of Crossover Break to Underarm Turn to Right, beginning and ending with man and lady in closed facing position.

STEP#	COUNT	DESCRIPTION	NOTES
Begin		Open facing position.

Prep	1	Right foot side.	Release right hand hold on end of prep step.

1	2	Left foot forward in side-by-side position.	1/4 turn to right between prep step and 1.
2	3	Transfer weight to right foot.	Begin to turn left.
3-5	4&1	Facing partner, chasse to left, LRL.	1/4 turn to left between 2-3. Regain right hand hold on 3, and then release left hand hold on end of 5.

6	2	Right foot forward in side-by-side position.	1/4 turn to left between 5-6.
7	3	Transfer weight to left foot.	Begin to turn right.
8-10	4&1	Facing partner, chasse to right, RLR.	1/4 turn to right between 7-8. regain left hand hold on end of 8. End in open-facing position, 2-hand hold.

STEP#	COUNT	DESCRIPTION	NOTES
Begin		Open facing position.

Prep	1	Left foot side.

1	2	Right foot forward in side-by-side position.	1/4 turn to left between prep step and 1.
2	3	Transfer weight to left foot.	Begin to turn right.
3-5	4&1	Facing partner, chasse to right, RLR.	1/4 turn to right between 2-3. Regain left hand hold on 3, and then release right hand hold on end of 5.

6	2	Left foot forward in side-by-side position.	1/4 turn to right between 5-6.
7	3	Transfer weight to right foot.	Begin to turn left.
8-10	4&1	Facing partner, chasse to left, LRL.	1/4 turn to left between 7-8. regain right hand hold on end of 8. End in open-facing position, 2-hand hold.

Cha Cha Basic Movement	>>	Crossover Breaks Forward
Progressive Basic	>>	Crossover Breaks Forward	Dancing a chasse to side over steps 8-10 of Progressive Basic.
Crossover Breaks Forward	>>	Crossover Breaks Forward
Cross-Body Lead	>>	Crossover Breaks Forward
Progressive Cross Triples	>>	Crossover Breaks Forward	Dancing a chasse to side over steps 20-22 of Progressive Cross Triples.
1-5 Cha Cha Basic Movement	>>	Crossover Break to Left	Partners releasing to open position with two-hand hold over 3-5 of Basic Movement.
Open Break	>>	Crossover Break to Left
1-5 Underarm Turn to Left	>>	Crossover Break to Left
Crossover with Double Rock to Right	>>	Crossover Break to Left	When Crossover with Double Rock to Right is taken on counts 4,1,2,3, 4&1.
Crossover Back Break to Right	>>	Crossover Break to Left
Crossover Turn to Right	>>	Crossover Break to Left
Offset Break to Right	>>	Crossover Break to Left
1-11 Progressive Cross Triples	>>	Crossover Break to Left	Progressive Cross Triples taken in open facing position, dancing a chasse to side over steps 9-11.
Underarm Turn to Right	>>	Crossover Break to Right
Crossover with Double Rock to Left	>>	Crossover Break to Right
Crossover Back Break to Left	>>	Crossover Break to Right
Crossover Turn to Left	>>	Crossover Break to Right
Offset Break to Left	>>	Crossover Break to Right

Crossover Breaks Forward	>>	Cha Cha Basic Movement
Crossover Breaks Forward	>>	Crossover Breaks Forward
Crossover Break to Left	>>	Cha Cha Basic Movement
Crossover Break to Left	>>	Progressive Basic
Crossover Break to Left	>>	Open Break
Crossover Break to Left	>>	Underarm Turn to Right
Crossover Break to Left	>>	Underarm Turn to Left
Crossover Break to Left	>>	Crossover with Double Rock
Crossover Break to Left	>>	Crossover Back Breaks
Crossover Break to Left	>>	Crossover Turns
Crossover Break to Left	>>	Offset Breaks
Crossover Break to Left	>>	Cross-Body Lead
Crossover Break to Left	>>	Progressive Cross Triples
Crossover Break to Left	>>	In & Out Turns
Crossover Break to Right	>>	6-10 Cha Cha Basic Movement
Crossover Break to Right	>>	6-10 Progressive Basic
Crossover Break to Right	>>	6-10 Underarm Turn to Right
Crossover Break to Right	>>	Crossover with Double Rock to Left
Crossover Break to Right	>>	6-10 Crossover Back Breaks
Crossover Break to Right	>>	6-10 Crossover Turns
Crossover Break to Right	>>	6-10 Offset Breaks
Crossover Break to Right	>>	12-22 Progressive Cross Triples