Say the name "Charo," and it's a safe bet that someone who has seen her live or watched her on the "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, the "Love Boat" or "Hollywood Squares" will respond, "Cuchi-cuchi.

" It's Charo's signature, and it's sure to be heard a lot in Atlantic City when the singer-dancer brings her new show, "Bravo," which includes lots of flamenco, merengue and salsa, to Resorts next weekend (Friday and Sunday night). A performer with enough energy to light up the town, Charo (born Maria Rosario Pilar Molina Baeza, in 1941 in Murcia, Spain) came to the United States at age 15 with her mother. The trip was arranged by bandleader Xavier Cugat, who wanted her to sing with his Latin orchestra. Two years later, she became Cugat's fifth wife. He was 66. An eye-catching blonde, Charo is a sizzling, 5-foot-2 bundle of energy. She shimmered in belly-baring spandex, sang, played guitar and maracas and danced. And she charmed audiences. When asked about the girlish "Cuchi-cuchi," she explained how she had a dog named Cuchillo, and to call him, she'd purse her lips and say, "Como Cuchi, como Cuchi.


" He'd come, wiggling his rear, and she'd wiggle her rear back at him. Does she tire of hearing people call out, "Cuchi-cuchi"? "Are you kidding?

" she says. " 'Cuchi-cuchi' has shown me the way to the bank!

" Charo and Cugat's marriage lasted 12 years; they were divorced in 1978. Charo was remarried almost immediately to her manager, Swedish-born Kjell Rasten and began headlining in Las Vegas. Her last performance there was in 1988, when she opened for George Burns. She and her husband retreated to Hawaii to raise their son, now 19 and a student at UCLA. RETURN TO THE SPOTLIGHT Last year, when their son started college, the couple closed their house and returned to the mainland. Charo decided to resume her career. But while out of the spotlight, Charo never really left show business. She continued to entertain at clubs and hotels near her home on Maui. What most people don't know is that Charo is a flamenco guitarist. At 14, she studied classical guitar on a scholarship with the legendary Andres Segovia. She's bringing her guitar with her to Atlantic City. Now, it's her show. If she wants to show off that side of her, so be it. Now she can "Cuchi-cuchi" as much as she wants to, and make music when she wants to. Charo will perform Friday at 10 p.

m. and Sunday at 8 p.

m. at the Superstar Theater at Resorts. Tickets are $35.