Out of the Afro-Carribean-Spanish mix found in Cuba, came the Mambo. It was first conceived in Cuba by Odilio Urfe and Arsenio Rodriguez, two men who mixed Latin with Jazz. In 1945, Damaso Perez Prado, another Cuban bandleader playing in Mexico, made it a Dance Craze. In the USA, Prado became one of the "Mambo Kings" "El Rey del Mambo". (Other "kings" included Tito Puente, Machito, and Israel Lopez Cachao.) Benny More and Celia Cruz were the finest vocal interpreters of the music. But it was "Prez" Prado's tunes such as "Mambo No. 5", and "Mambo Jambo" that caused the dance to explode onto the World's dance floors.

While there are several different "holds" and various movements in the Mambo, even the best dancers return to the Basic Steps, re-discovering it's simplicity and charm.

Here are some Mambo tunes for your practice sessions.
Listen to:
"Rico Mambo"
"Mambo No. 5"

  VIDEO: "Mambo Basic Step - Men's and Women's"   (Film Clip: l2dadmin ): Learn how to dance the Mambo as seen ... Learn how to dance the Mambo as seen on Dancing With The Stars.

THE BASIC MAMBO DANCE STEP

1. Left foot forward --- Two
2. Right foot steps in place --- Three
3. Left foot small step to side --- Four, One
4. Right foot back --- Two
5. Left foot steps in place --- Three
6. Right foot small step to side --- Four, One

1. Right foot Back --- Two
2. Left foot steps in place --- Three
3. Right foot small step to side --- Four, One
4. Left foot Forward --- Two
5. Right foot steps in place --- Three
6. Left foot small step to side --- Four, One

The 'Basic' Steps should be practiced until both partners are comfortable and can execute the pattern easily and without any stress. The picture on the left shows the basic Mambo step for the Man, or "Lead". The Lady, or "Follow", executes the sames steps backwards (diagram just below the 'lead' above), starting on her Right foot. REMEMBER that the step numbers shown above correspond to the Beats of the Music.

And, on the Right is shown a possible "Amalgamation" of the steps. But recall that the Mambo is a "Rhythm" dance and so does not follow a "line of dance" but rather stays within one square on the dance floor. NOTE: To repeat the figure, simply return to Step One - Without returning to the starting position where the feet are together.

The Mambo, like the Rhumba, is also of Cuban origin. Dance in the "Closed Position" with the "Free" hands half way up, but close to the body. It should ideally be danced to fast music with a very pronounced Beat, with the dancer's hip movements pronounced, and the dance steps basic.

The music's 4/4 time usually emphasizes the 2nd and 4th beat and the dance has a pause on the 1st beat. The Beat is Two, Three, Four, One, while the steps (usually) are quick, quick, slow or sometimes step, step, step, Pause.

In addition, there are a number of differing holds, the Close Contact Hold, Double Hand Hold, Right Hand to Right Hand Hold, Right Hand to Left Hand Hold, and Left Hand to Right Hand Hold. One could dance the whole night away without ever getting bored with repetition.