3. Crossover Breaks Forward
Fact Sheet
| Official Name: | Crossover Breaks Forward |
| Dance / Level: | Beginning Bronze American Style Cha Cha |
| Aliases: | Crossovers, Crossover Rocks, New York, Side-by-Side Breaks |
Suggested
Prerequisites: | None |
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.
