
Cha-cha-cha
The most recognisable rhythm in dance: two, three, cha-cha-chà. Donald takes the final steps in his week long whirl around the world of ballroom dancing.
Donald Macleod takes a whirl around the world through the music of ballroom dancing, in celebration of BBC Radio 3’s Day of Dance on Friday 8th November. With the help of Hilary French, author of Ballroom: A People’s History of Dancing, Donald waltzes across Viennese ballrooms, foxtrots through New York clubs, tries the tango in the arrabales of Buenos Aires, sambas on the streets of Salvador and finally cha-cha-cha’s his way to Havana.
In today's final instalment, Donald takes to the clubs of Cuba to learn how the danzón-mambo evolved into the most recognisable rhythm in ballroom dance: two, three, cha-cha-chà.
Mambo No 5
Perez Prado, composer & performer
La Cucaracha
Perez Prado, composer & performer
Mambo No 8
Perez Prado, composer & performer
La Enganadora
Enrique Jorrin, composer
Enrique Jorrin Y Su Orquesta
Silver Star
Enrique Jorrin, composer
Enrique Jorrin Y Su Orquesta
Rico Vacilon
Enrique Jorrin, composer
Enrique Jorrin Y Su Orquesta
La Blusa Azul
Enrique Jorrin, composer
Enrique Jorrin Y Su Orquesta
The Peanut Vendor
Perez Prado, composer & performer
Besame Mucho
Consuelo Velázquez, composer
Los Panchos
Pata Pata
Miriam Makeba, composer & performer
Sway
Luis Demetrio & Pablo Beltrán Ruiz, composers
Perez Prado, performer
Rosmary Clooney, vocals
Oye Como Va
Tito Puente, composer & performer
Sabor a Mi
Eydie Gorme, composer
Trio Los Panchos
Doble Quince
Mobey Lola Irizarry, composer & performer
La Palma
Lulada Club
Lulada Llego
Lulada Club
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio Wales & West
To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Composer of the Week”
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
You are at the last episode
Music Played
![]()
Pérez Prado
Mambo No 5
Orchestra: Pérez Prado and His Orchestra.- Supreme Media.
![]()
Pérez Prado
La Cucaracha
Orchestra: Pérez Prado and His Orchestra.- Music Today Records.
![]()
Pérez Prado
Mambo No 8
Orchestra: Pérez Prado and His Orchestra.- Legends of Cuban Music.
![]()
Enrique Jorrín
La Enganadora
Orchestra: Enrique Jorrin Y Su Orquesta.- Vintage Music.
![]()
Enrique Jorrín
Rico Vacilon
Orchestra: Enrique Jorrin Y Su Orquesta.- iLatina Music.
![]()
Enrique Jorrín
La Blusa Azul
Orchestra: Enrique Jorrin Y Su Orquesta.- Fonarte Latino.
![]()
Moisés Simón Rodríguez
El Manisero
Music Arranger: Pérez Prado. Orchestra: Pérez Prado and His Orchestra.- Black Sheep Music.
![]()
Consuelo Velázquez
Besame Mucho
Performer: Los Panchos.- Columbia.
![]()
Miriam Makeba
Pata Pata
Composer: Jerry Ragovoy. Performer: Miriam Makeba.- UNIVERSAL.
![]()
Luis Demetrio
Sway
Composer: Pablo Beltrán Ruiz. Singer: Rosemary Clooney. Orchestra: Pérez Prado and His Orchestra.- RCA.
![]()
Tito Puente
Oye Como Va
Ensemble: Tito Puente Latin Ensemble.- Concord Picante.
![]()
Álvaro Carrillo
Sabor a Mi
Singer: Eydie Gormé. Ensemble: Los Panchos.- Columbia.
![]()
Mobey Lola Irizarry
Doble Quince
Performer: Mobey Lola Irizarry.- Mobey Lola Irizarry.
![]()
Lulada Club
La Palma
Ensemble: Lulada Club.- NU-TONE.
![]()
Lulada Club
Lulada Llego
Ensemble: Lulada Club.- NU-TONE.
Broadcast
- Fri 8 Nov 202416:00BBC Radio 3







