Pachanga

(Early 1960s)

In the early 1960s, a Latin dance called Pachanga was introduced.

As Leona Lehman explains in Dancing for All Occasions (1962), "Following the sensationally long success of the Cha Cha, another lively Cuban dance novelty was introduced to the U.S.A. at Miami, Florida. It is called "La Pachanga." This interesting dance and its accompanying music took only a few months to gain headway and win friends in America. Enthusiasts of Latin-American dancing introduced it to the great metropolis, New York City, and in short time its popularity spread and it became the number one dance sensation."

Lehman describes these steps for La Pachanga:

• Basic Step Sideward: Slow side (1), close (2), side (3), then a QQ rock-step (4-and), bending the knee on the first step of the rock step, and straightening the knee on the second. Then repeat opposite [LL62].
• The Forward Step: Back the Follow three slow steps, curving to the left, then a rock step. Then repeat on the other foot, curving the the right. It is noted that this step can also be done by a group in a single file line, like the Conga line that existed at the same time [LL62].
• The Forward Estampa: Stamp forward left (1), stamp in place right (2), then close (3), and hold (4). Then repeat on the other foot, stamping forward right. As the Lead moves forward, the Follow moves backward, and vice versa [LL62].
• The Backward Estampa: Stamp backward left (1), stamp in place right (2), then close (3), and hold (4). Then repeat on the other foot, stamping backward right. As the Lead moves backward, the Follow moves forward, and vice versa [LL62].
• The Sideward Estampa: Stamp side left (1), stamp in place right (2), then close (3), and hold (4). Then repeat on the other foot, stamping side right [LL62].
• The Diagonal Estampa: Stamp diagonally forward left, bending the knee (1), stamp in place right (2), then close, straightening the knee (3), and hold (4). Then repeat on the other foot, stamping diagonally forward right [LL62].
• The Tap Step: An Estampa (usually sideward) in which the stamping is replaced with tapping [LL62].
• The Hop and Slide: Hop forward with both feet, taking off of the toes from bended knee and landing on the heels, straightening the knees, but without ever leaving the ground (i.e., it's more a slide than a hop). Then hop backward in the same fashion. These hops/slides can be done in any direction (forward, back, side, circling CW or CCW [LL62].
• Double-Time Pachanga: The basic steps done in double-time, twice as fast [LL62].
• Side Touch: Side left, turning slightly right (1), and touch right closed without weight (and), then side right, turning slightly left (2), and touch left closed without weight (and) [AM61].
• Hopped Side Touch: Side left, turning slightly right (1), and hop on left, touching right closed without weight (and), then side right, turning slightly left (2), and hop on right, touching left closed without weight (and) [AM61].

Sources

• AM61 — Arthur Murray. (1961, December). "The Sensational New Pachanga." Silver Screen. New York.
• LL62 — Leona Lehman. (1962). Dancing for All Occasions. New York.

© 2017-2018 Nick Enge

For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

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