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Mambo
Mambo is the base for many Latin dances. The mambo today is not danced as frequently as salsa, even though much of the basic movement is the same mambo and salsa do not parallel each other in the style that is used for each dance. Mambo is generally danced on the 2 beat in a song with 4/4 timing. The basic step is simple forward rock together back rock together. The mambo is fun and energetic dance that can still be seen out on competition floors and in ballrooms.
The dance itself comes from Cuba where there were substantial settlements of Haitians. In the back country of Haiti, the "Mambo" is term for a voodoo priestess, who serves the villagers as a counselor, healer, exorcist, soothsayer, spiritual advisor, as well as being responsible for public entertainment. There is however no fold dance in Haiti known as the Mambo.
The Mambo begins its existence through the fusion of Cuban music with swing. The Mambo as we know it could not have existed any earlier because the fusion of Cuban and American Jazz had not yet occurred. The Mambo itself was introduced by Perez Prado at La Tropicana night club in Havana in 1943. Ever since that day Latin American band leaders like Tito Puente, Machito, and Xavier Cugat have developed their own styles and through this musical explosion they helped further the Mambo as a dance.
The Mambo was originally played as any Rumba would be with a riff ending. It may be described as a riff or perhaps a Rumba with a break on 2 and 4 in 4/4 time. The native Cuban musicians would break on any beat they chose.
Mambo was first introduced to the U.S. in New York's Park Plaza Ballroom - a popular hang out among local dancers from Harlem. The Mambo picked up momentum in 1947 at the Palladium and other landmarks such as The China Doll, Havana, Madrid, and Birdland.
A mild version of the Mambo (The original dance was toned down due to the violent acrobatics.) was given to the public at dance studios, resort hotels, and night clubs in New York and Miami. The idea was to make it a big success. Mambo fanatic were given the name Mambonicks.
The Mambo craze was unfortunately short lived and is now really only danced by professional dancers. Many teachers agreed that this was one of the most difficult dances to learn. Due to the syncopations and the timing changes Mambo is a very complex and intricate dance. The greatest contribution of Mambo to the modern dance world is that it was the beginning of cha-cha.
The Mambo has more recently enjoyed a burst in popularity due to the films that portrayed back in the 1990's. Also the program "Dancing With The Stars" has featured several fantastic Mambo routines.
It is a fantastic time for Latin dance. Mambo is hot now like it was in the 50's. The dance is developed out a diverse background with many different styles and variations. You will never learn all the steps and be bored with this dance.
Although many people treat Mambo as a quick dance it is actually slow and precise in its movements. It really does not move around very much.
Popular Mambo music includes Mambo #5, Mambo Italiano, Papa Loves Mambo and the super CD featuring Hernandez and the Mambo Kings Orchestra.