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Mambo Dance Steps

Mambo was widely popularized in Cuba by Prado Prez, in the 1940s. When Perez Prado and his orchestra toured United States in 1951, he created a craze on the New York dance floors with his mambo and came to be known as the mambo king. Mambo was second only to the rumba, another Cuban-African dance which spread in the United States like wildfire. Mambo became a popular dance form in dancing competitions in the halls of New York. Dancers twisted and turned and threw their partners, arms, legs and hands in the air while swaying to the mambo rhythms.

Mambo dancing is basically a 4/4 steps dance form. There are no movements on the first step of every 4/4 beat. This is followed by quick-quick-slow beats. When moving forward and backward, dancers sway their hips, which looks like a fluid motion flowing with the music. The fast-stepping mambo gave rise to another form of dance known as the 'cha-cha'.

Mambo is easy to learn but these basic steps may take little time to master.

Mambo Dance Moves

• Stand facing your partner. Place your feet together.
  
• Place right hand on your partner's waist and extend your left hand, palm facing up and arm bent to your side.
  
• Hold your partner's hand in a loose grip and wait for the music to begin.
  
• Do not move when you hear the first beat. On the second beat, step back with your right foot. On the third beat, shift the body weight to your left foot.
  
• Step forward with your right foot and bring both feet together on the fourth beat. The body weight has to be shifted on the right foot again.
  
• After pausing for the fifth beat, shift your weight to your left foot and step forward on the sixth beat.
  
• Shift the weight back to your right foot on the seventh beat and on the final eight beat shift your weight back to your left and step back, bringing your feet together again.

The female partner dances on the exactly opposite dance moves of the male partner. She has to follow her man's lead, dancing backward when he moves forward and moving forward when he dances backward.

If you wish to jazz things a bit, then you may try the "Drag-Her-Around" mambo moves, also called the cross-body lead. The lead faces the wall and at the end of the move the follower faces the wall. This is a three step dance, where the weight is shifted on the same feet, similar to the basic mambo steps. The variation in this form is the 180 degree pivot turn that is performed after the first weight shift. The lady partner just follows her lead and takes the steps forward and across the lead's left side. She also performs the 180 degree turn but she breaks it up in two 90 degree turns in the second and final step.

The crossover break is a stylish variation, when both the lead and follower keep their hands connected. Their feet turn one-quarter away from each other. They move into the 'ballroom' position, that is, the 'fifth position'. The weight should be completely placed on the rear foot.

Mambo dancing is very energetic and full of life. It has been widely popularized today after the initial cool down brought about by Ricky Martin in the 1990s. This is the dance from where the term 'shake it' was first coined, due to the hip movements involved in a mambo dance. The dancers appear passionate about each other and one can feel the intensity of emotions flowing through their bodies while dancing a mambo. Try the mambo dance steps to liven up your spirits as Lou Bega rightly says in his song:

Mambo mambo eh eh
The babes are all around me
Mambo mambo eh eh
Dancin all night long
Mambo mambo eh eh
The babes are all around me
Mambo mambo eh eh
To the break of dawn

How To Perform the Mambo

The mambo is a sensual Latin dance that came from Cuba during the 1940s and became a popular dance around the world. Its music sounds like salsa, but with a different beat and tempo. If you want to learn how to perform the mambo, the very first thing you need to do would be to become familiar and comfortable with its music so that you can easily flow into its beat and tempo. It may help your learning greatly to observe the dance steps first; you will notice that forward and backward steps, as well as frequent hip movements, are common in mambo. The original mambo dance steps originating in Cuba, Mexico City, and New York were free-wheeling dance steps frequently described as dancing to the music. Many professional dance teachers felt that such kind of dancing was undisciplined. Today, the modern form of mambo is actually a standardization. In this article, you will learn the standardized basic mambo dance steps.

1. Stand in an upright position. Your feet should be close together.
2. Slide your right foot to the side. Keep your left foot in place. Shift your weight to your right foot. The shift in weight will make you appear like making a sideward rocking motion.
3. Shift your weight back to your left foot. Do this without moving your right foot yet. The shift in weight will again make you do a sideward rocking motion.
4. Bring back the right foot close to your left foot.
5. Shift the weight of your body to your left foot. Again, the shift in weight will make you do a sideward rocking motion in place.

6. Slide your left foot to the side. Keep your right foot in place. Shift your weight to your left foot. This will make your hips sway in a rocking motion.
7. Shift your weight back to your right foot. This will again make your hips sway sideward. Do this without sliding back your right foot yet.
8. Slide back the left foot close to your right foot.
9. Shift your weight to the other foot. The effect of this move will be the swaying of your hips as you stand in place.
10. Repeat the steps from the beginning as often as necessary.

The steps described above are for sideward movement of the feet. Each time you slide a foot or shift your body weight, your hips will almost naturally sway or rock. As you slide and shift weight, make your hips draw an imaginary number 8 lying on its side. That is, imagine your pelvis as the tip of a pencil, and with that pencil, draw a horizontal number 8.

Also, the steps described above can be altered slightly for a forward-backward movement. Instead of sliding a foot either towards the left or to the right, slide it either forward or backward. The shifting of your body weight and the closing of the feet remain unaltered.

With these basic mambo steps, you can start exploring variations or more advanced steps that almost usually combine these basic steps. Once you’ve mastered the basics, there’ll be no stopping you from having much fun in the ballroom or on the dance floor.

What’s the difference between mambo and salsa?

This depends completely on how each is defined. If we are talking about club style salsa and club style mambo, the only difference is that salsa can be danced on any beat whereas in mambo, the break step is taken on the second beat of the measure. Thus salsa encompasses mambo. In other words, mambo can be thought of as the special case of salsa where the break step is taken on count 2.

If we are talking about salsa and ballroom mambo, the differences are larger. Ballroom training encourages precise and sharp movement with sudden stops and fast changes of direction. In addition, big arm lines are used in ballroom figures. Ballroom figures normally have precise geometries and usually move in linear or lateral directions. In contrast, salsa is more relaxed, more flowing, and the patterns are more circular. Big arm lines are not used in club style salsa dancing.

Mambo tips

4 beats/measure; 44 - 50 meas/min

Mambo originated in Cuba and is their national dance. It came to the United States in the '40s and became widely popular in the early '50s. Teachers promoted it and even developed three separate rhythms: the single, double, and triple Mambo, something we see in our Jive and Swing today.

As a first approximation, Mambo is a fast Rumba. Many of the figures are the same as in Rumba or Cha, but to get them done in less time, you must take smaller, sharper steps with a somewhat tighter hold. Where Rumba is smooth, Mambo is quick and sharp.

Each figure has a staccato, rocking appearance and then a pause as though you are catching your breath before the next figure. Given the speed, the hip action is less pronounced. Take each step on the inside edge of the foot early in the beat, then shift weight to the flat at the end of the beat and straighten the leg. Taking weight and flexing the off knee draws the supporting hip in the direction of the step, so the appearance is that of stepping with the foot and then the hip. The timing would be something like "&/1" — "edge/flat." Count: &1, &2, &3, pause; but count fast.

Figure Name, Roundalab Phase Level, & Timing q=quick, 1 beat s=slow, 2 beats &=1/2 beat; a=1/4 beat	Steps and Actions That Make Up the Figure Each description focuses on the man, with the woman's footwork in parenthesis. If a woman's step is not given, it is the natural opposite or follow of the man's. Help: basic dance positions and steps, actions, directions, and abbreviations. Non-standard punctuation: a comma separates two beats of music, a semi-colon marks the end of a measure, and a slash (/) indicates a split beat, two things occurring in a single beat.	Here are some sequences to help you visualize the figure in context.
Basic phase III qqs; qqs;	In closed or butterfly position, step forward L (woman back R), recover, side, -; back, recover, side, -; One might be asked to do a half basic or Forward Basic, the first measure of this figure; or a Back Basic, the second measure.	In the Kincaids' Let's Mambo Tonight, the dance begins with a cucaracha left & right;; full basic;; new yorker to reverse and kick to line; knee swivels; new yorker to reverse and kick to line; side walk to reverse; to a scallop;;
Closed Basic qqs; qqs;	In closed or butterfly position, step forward, recover, close, -; back, recover, close, -;	In Sing A Long Mambo by the Worlocks, part B begins with side walk 3 to open position facing LOD; chase turn away to face RLOD; fwd 3; patti-cake tap; back basic to butterfly; thru to serpiente with flick & knee lift;; thru side close; closed basic;; open up to a cucaracha cross check; rec sd thru to butterfly;
Progressive Basic phase IV qqs; qqs;	In closed, butterfly, or left open facing position, rock forward L (woman back R), recover R, back small step on L, -; rock back R, recover L, and small forward R, -;
Mambo Walks qqs;	Step fwd, fwd, fwd, -;
Cucaracha qqs; qqs;	Step sd, rec, cl, -; sd, rec, cl, -; These side steps are pressing steps; full weight is not taken. So in the first measure, you step to the side with your lead foot, press with the ball of the foot, but don't lower the heel and don't raise the heel of the trail foot. A little rotation of the ball of the lead foot would be appropriate, but in mambo we don't have time for much of this sort of flourish. Then recover full weight to the trail foot, and close the lead foot to the trail foot.	In Mambo Loco by Pilachowski & DeLauter, there is an alemana;; shoulder to shoulder twice;; cucaracha left & right;; basic;;
Turning Cucarachas qqs; qqs; qqs; qqs;	The cucaracha is not standard for mambo, and the turning cucaracha is even less standardized. Of course, the footwork is some number of cucarachas, but we turn either LF or RF, usually 1/4 or 1/2, on either the first or second step of each cucaracha. So, we might begin facing partner and wall with lead feet free. Step sd L (W sd R), rec R turning 1/4 RF (W rec L turning 1/4 LF) to LOP facing RLOD, close L, -; sd R, rec L turning 1/2 LF (W 1/2 RF), cl R to OP facing LOD, -; sd L (W sd R), rec R turning 1/2 RF (W rec L turning 1/2 LF) to LOP facing RLOD, close L, -; sd R, rec L turning 1/2 LF (W 1/2 RF), cl R to OP facing LOD, -;	In Bamboozle by the Teagues, there is a diamond turn to CP wall;;;; turning cucarachas to OP LOD;;;; back break; swivel walk 6 to face;; hip rock; In Bye Bye Mambo by the Rumbles, there is a scallop to CP wall;; two turning side breaks (which are essentially turning cucarachas), one turning 1/4 to LOP RLOD and the second turning 1/2 to OP LOD;; to a side break to rolling off the arm to face LOD;;
New Yorker phase III qqs;	In a facing position, both step through with lead foot to left open reverse, rec to face, sd, -; May be done with the trail foot turning to line and in other orientations.	In Ding Dong Mambo by the Collipis, we start with a basic;; new yorker twice;; spot turn twice;; mambo box;;
Spot Turns phase III qqs; qqs;	Both cross in front with lead feet and turn away, recover and continue turning to face, sd, -; cross in front with trail feet and turn away opposite direction, recover continue turning to face, sd, -;	In Ding Dong Mambo by the Collipis, part A starts with a basic;; new yorker twice;; spot turn twice;; mambo box;;
Break phase III qqs;	To break is to step back and maybe cross behind. Then you recover and step to some indicated position. The cue might be break back to open, in which case, you would cross behind with the lead foot turning LF (woman RF) to open position, recover on the trail foot, and step forward on the lead still in open position, -; Or you might be asked to break back to face, in which case, you would cross behind turning to open, recover turning back to face partner, and then step side to a facing position, -; The break can begin with either foot.	In the Worlocks' Jack Is Back, you are facing wall and partner in handshake for a break and pull pass. This is simply one measure in which you break apart L (woman apart R), pull right hands passing right shoulders, and step forward (man to wall; woman toward center). The dance continues with a chase turn to left handshake; break & pull pass; chase turn to join lead hands; break & wrap to face reverse; and wheel to face line; In Mambo With Papa by the Aurienes, there is a forward and back break;; left and right break;; side walks to line;; cross body face center;; repeat to face wall;;;;;;;;
Open Break phase III qqs;	In a facing position holding lead hands, both rock apart on lead foot trail hands up palms out, recover, and step side, -;	Do an open break; whip; chase;;;; open break; whip back to wall;
Side Breaks ss; ss;	In a facing position, step side L (woman sd R), -, sd R, -; close L (woman cl R), -, cl R, -; This style of break is more commonly associated with jive or swing.	In Hey Mambo! by the Cibulas, the dance starts (partners 10 ft. apart) with side breaks with arms up and down;; 4 cross walks together;; and quick cucarachas left and right;;
Natural Top qqs;	In closed position, reverse line of dance, cross right behind left and turn in a tight circle RF, step side turning to face wall, close;	Half basic to a natural top. (In such a sequence, turn the half basic 1/4 RF to prepare for the top.)
Chase phase III qqs; qqs; qqs; qqs;	Facing partner, step fwd L (woman back R) and turn RF 1/2, recover, fwd, -; This puts you in tandem both facing center. Step forward and both turn (man LF and woman RF), recover, fwd, -; At the end of the second measure, you are in tandem, both facing wall. Step forward she trn 1/2 LF, rec, bk, -; bk, rec, fwd, -; You end in facing position as at the start.
Cross Body phase IV qqs; qqs;	Facing partner & wall, step forward L (woman back R), rec, sd turning LF (woman steps fwd to "L position"), -; step back continuing to turn LF (woman fwd turning LF), step fwd (woman fwd turning 1/2 LF), and side to butterfly center, -;	In Easterday's Jambo Mambo, there is a half basic to a cross body twice;;;; and then a vine 8;;
Aida phase IV qqs;	Facing partner & wall trail feet free XIF stepping through to line beginning to turn in (man RF woman LF), fwd continuing turn, bk to V back-to-back position man facing rev & cntr woman facing rev & wall, -; (may begin to reverse with lead feet)	half basic; aida; roll to reverse and face; cucaracha to semi; scallop;;
Roll qqs;	In aida position step fwd turn in 1/2, bk continue turn, fwd turn to face partner and wall, -;	In the Easterdays' Who's Got the Mambo?, there is a forward basic facing line of dance (woman reverse); both roll RF to reverse; natural top to face wall;; and cucaracha twice;;
Scallop phase IV qqs; qqs;	In a loose closed position, cross lead foot behind trail foot, recover, and step side, -; step thru, sd, cl, -; Keep your shoulders parallel and even hold eye-contact. Swivel at the hips but don't open your top-lines. End in butterfly or closed position. As you take each side step, trace a curve on the floor — the Scallop is named for these "scalloped" arcs.	Again from Jambo Mambo: open break; natural top; scallop;; repeat;;;; Or, scallop;; scallop;; scallop;; side walk 3 to bfly; fence line;
Patty Cake Tap phase IV ss;	In left open position facing reverse, lift trail knee swivel in to face partner pat trail hands and point trail feet thru toward line no wt, -, lift trail knee again and swivel back out again to left open and step back, -; (one weight change total)	Try a cross body to left open position facing LOD;; back basic; patty cake tap; back basic; patty cake tap; back basic; kiki walk 3; new yorker to face; whip back to wall;
Diamond Turn With Hops qqs; qqs; qqs; qqs;	This is a waltz or fox-trot figure, but if you add the hops, it becomes latin‽ In closed position wall or line, step fwd L turning LF to bjo, sd turning, bk, lift right knee and hop back a little still on left (three weight changes and a quarter turn left in each measure); bk R, sd, fwd, hop fwd; fwd, sd, bk, hop; bk, sd, fwd, hop; (end in starting position)	In the Schmidts' Mambo Tequila, the dance begins with two cucarachas;; diamond turn with hops;;;; to a full basic;; new yorker; and underarm turn;
Vine qqqq;	In loose closed, step side, behind, side, in front; (really, a two step figure)	Repeat for a vine 8
Arm Check phase V qqs; qqs;	In left open facing position, rock apart L (woman apart R), recover R, and step side and forward L toward woman's left side (woman forward R toward man's right side) release joined lead hands and take woman's left wrist in man's right hand, -; In second measure, he steps forward R turning 1/2 LF and leading woman to spin 1 & 1/2 RF in 3 steps with a little push to her L wrist, forward L, close R, -;
Tummy Check qqs;	Unlike the arm check above, this one doesn't turn. Facing partner, check forward R toward partner's R side (W fwd L) catching partner with R arm at waist, recover, back & sd R (W bk & sd L) to face partner again, -;	In Moola Lah by the Finches, there is a basic;; open break; tummy check; open break; underarm turn;