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We caught up with professional dancer Lilia Kopylova to talk about the Cha Cha.

What's the best way to describe the Cha Cha?

Very playful, cheeky and direct. It's a Cuban dance that involves lots of hip action. But the hip action should be very direct, unlike the Rumba and Samba where it's more circular. The Cha Cha is very much about the interaction between a man and a woman.

What steps are used in this dance?

There are lots of lock steps and chassez. The New Yorker is a very popular and common step in the Cha Cha - you see both beginners and professionals use this step. And you'll see lots of steps that involve syncopation.

What's you favourite thing about the Cha Cha?

I like this dance because of the interaction between the man and the woman - who play an equal role, unlike with the Paso Doble and Rumba for example.

What advice would you give someone who's just starting to learn the dance?

The Cha Cha is probably the best dance for beginners to learn. Out of all the Latin dances, the Cha Cha is considered the easiest due to its clear timing. So the advice I'd give would be to learn and understand the timing at the very beginning, then you can start adding the hip action and other moves.

What do you teach on day 1 of Cha Cha training?

The rhythm is the first thing I teach. I get my students to clap to music in order to understand the timing. And then from there, I move on to the basic steps and add more difficulty.

What's the most important thing a Cha Cha dancer should bring to the floor?

The character of the dance, which is shown through action and expression. Getting both elements right is the most difficult thing for beginners. The action in Cha Cha is very important - the straightening of the knee against the bent knee is key and getting the correct rocking hip action. Everything in this dance is very sharp, quick and direct. The expression through the body and face is also very important.

What type of dress is best for the Cha Cha?

The dress is very important for the girl in the Cha Cha. With the movement and syncopation of the dance, a flowing dress with fringes and frills is better than a static and tight costume.