Latin Dances - Cuban Family
MAMBO
Mambo and salsa are the two fastest dances in the family. The step patterns of each are frequently simpler than in the other dances - the challenge lies in the speed of the dance and in the unusual timing.
Mambo is danced with strong hip and knee action (cuban motion), and the movements are quick and snappy. Many of the step patterns are very similar indeed to some styles of salsa; however, where salsa uses a softened body movement with a rolling fluidity to it, mambo uses a stronger, crisper, sharper style. Both dances look great, but in completely different ways.
Mambo is a very versatile dance. While there is certainly a traditional musical style for mambo, the dance works well for all sorts fast music. You can use it for an uncomfortably quick swing or rock'n'roll piece; styled appropriately, it's a handy substitute if the floor is too small or too crowded for quickstep; if a pacey cha-cha gets too tiring, it's simple to slip into mambo for a bit of extra breathing space. Here are some traditional and non-traditional tunes that feel great for mambo.
Harry Belafonte Matilda
Perez Prado Rico Mambo
Lou Bega Mambo Number 5
Snowboy & The Latin Section I've Got to Learn to do the Mambo