DANCIN' DOWN UNDER

http://www.dancindownunder.com

NEW MEXICO CHA CHA

Feb 1997

SONG          Land Of Enchantment 114BPM

ARTIST        Michael Martin Murphy

DESCRIPTION   64 count, 4 wall dance

CHOREOGRAPHED by Terry Hogan. Brisbane, Australia

DIFFICULTY RATING: ****

Beats             Steps

1      Step L foot to the L side

2      Rock weight to the R side onto R foot

3      Rock to the L side, taking weight onto L foot

&      Step R foot across in front of L

4      Step L foot to the L side

5-6    Step R foot backward, rock forward onto L

7&8    Shuffle forward R-L-R

9-10   Touch L toe to the L side, touch L toe beside R foot

11&12  Shuffle forward L-R-L

13-14  Touch R toe to the R side, touch R toe beside L foot

15     Step forward on R foot,

16     On ball of foot make 1/2 pivot turn L stepping weight forward onto L foot

17-18  Small step forward on R foot, rock weight back onto L foot

19&20  Cha cha R-L-R, moving slightly forward

21-22  Small step forward on L foot, rock weight back onto R foot

23&24  Cha cha L-R-L moving slightly forward

       *the above eight counts should be done will plenty of hip motion

25-26  Step R foot to the R side raising L heel, drop L heel

27     Step ball of R foot across behind L raising L heel

28     Drop L heel

&29    Repeat counts 25-26, but at double time-each move uses 1/2 beat only

&30    Repeat counts 27-28, but at double time-each move uses 1/2 beat only

       *the above moves also should involve hip moves or sways

31     Step R foot to the R side

32     With weight on R foot and leaving L foot in place make 1/4 turn L

33-34  Rock/step forward onto L foot, rock backward onto R

35&36  Shuffle backward L-R-L

37-38  Step backward on R foot, rock forward onto L

39&40  Shuffle forward R-L-R

&      Step ball of L foot forward at a diagonal leaving R foot in place

41     Pushing with L foot replace weight over R foot making 1/4 turn R

&42    Repeat previous two counts (&41)

       You should have made a total of 1/2 turn R with this paddle turn

43-52  Repeat entire sequence counts 33-42

53     Step L foot to the L side

54     Step R foot across behind L raising L heel

55-56  Lower L heel, step R foot to the R side

       *the above moves use hip motion or sways

&      Step backward on ball of L foot,

57     step on ball of R foot beside L

58     Step forward on L foot

59-60  Slide R foot forward to touch R toes beside L foot, hold

61-62  Rock/step forward on R foot, rock backward onto L

63&64  Making 1/2 turn R cha cha in place R-L-R

*the paddle turns (&41 etc) should be a combination of the forward shuffle move to

make the turns flow-there is no pause between the two moves.

*the toe touches at the beginning of the dance should be gentle moves that flow or

slide from one touch to the other, ie they should be audible taps or stomps.

Choreographers Note; This dance which is meant to be slow and have lots of hip

movement was inspired by the recommended song which I first heart enroute from

Albuquerque to Santa Fe in New Mexico (which is actually referred to as the Land Of

Enchantment) The song was played for our tour group by our local guide, a lovely lady

called Adrienne, and as soon as I heard it I knew I was going to put a dance to it.

This dance is dedicated to her, to my fellow travelers and also to Ginny Graham and

The Silver Foxes who all contributed to another fantastic New Mexico trip. The dance

which I think should be reasonably easy for dancers with a little experience, is

suitable for any cha cha rhythm, but is intended to be slow and graceful dance and

will not have the correct feel if danced to faster music.