Originally known as the Cha-Cha-Cha. Became popular about 1954. Cha Cha is an offshoot of the Mambo.
When the English dance teacher Pierre Margolie visited Cuba in 1952, he realised that sometimes the Rumba was danced with extra beats. This is said to be an innovation introduced in 1948 by the musician Enrique Jorrin, combining two Cuban dances, the ‘Danzon’ and the ‘Montuno’. When Pierre returned to Britain, he started teaching these steps as a separate dance.