The Mambo dance was originated by a Cuban bandleader, Perez Prado, in Havana, Cuba in the 1930s. It is a very sexy Latin style dance along with passionate and flirtatious hip movement that flows forward and backward. Additionally, Mambo dancers dance in sharp and quick steps, side steps, rock steps, kicks, points and flicks of the feet. There are a variety of Mambo rhythms, and they are all based on the clave rhythm that used in Afro-Cuban music. The rhythms are set by a variety of percussion instruments including drums, timbales and cowbells. Piano, bass, strings (guitar and violin), and winds (trumpets and saxophones) are also common in Mambo music. This dance may be described as a riff or a Rumba with a break or emphasis on 2 and 4 in a
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It first appeared in the United States in New York’s Park Plaza Ballroom – a favorite hangout place for enthusiastic dancers. As the Rumba was exhausting its enthusiasm, Mambo really flourished in the 1940s to 1950s, and it became a popular dance in the U.S., when the Cuban music merged with American Jazz and Swing. Prado made some modifications to the Mambo so as to make it more commercial. Due to the violent acrobatics, it had to be toned down and therefore a modified version was presented at dance studios, resort hotels, and at nightclubs in New York and Miami. Prado also introduced Mambo to Mexico, where the mambo dance was characterized by freedom and complicated footsteps. However, the excitement and craze of Mambo did not last too long because it was very limited to advance dancers. It was recognized as one of the most difficult and fast dances by many dancers and studios. One of the greatest contributions was it led to the development of other Latin dances such as Salsa and Cha-Cha. Some people described Salsa as a slowed down mutated version of Mambo, while Cha-Cha as a slower triple rhythm version of …show more content…
Torres is a New York dancer and a Mambo expert who makes the Mambo sway in the ballroom once again. He steadily gains his reputation as the Mambo King and he runs a studio in Midtown New York City that specialized in Mambo and Salsa dance. According to a recent interview, he believed now is a great time for Latin American dances. ‘The Mambo is hot now, like it was in the 50s. It is a dance with many influences such as African, Cuban, Jazz, Hip-Hop, even some ballet. You’ll never run out of steps.’ say Torres. His style of Mambo dance is more Americanized and as a street style dance that he developed out of what he saw on the Bronx streets in New
It first appeared in the United States in New York’s Park Plaza Ballroom – a favorite hangout place for enthusiastic dancers. As the Rumba was exhausting its enthusiasm, Mambo really flourished in the 1940s to 1950s, and it became a popular dance in the U.S., when the Cuban music merged with American Jazz and Swing. Prado made some modifications to the Mambo so as to make it more commercial. Due to the violent acrobatics, it had to be toned down and therefore a modified version was presented at dance studios, resort hotels, and at nightclubs in New York and Miami. Prado also introduced Mambo to Mexico, where the mambo dance was characterized by freedom and complicated footsteps. However, the excitement and craze of Mambo did not last too long because it was very limited to advance dancers. It was recognized as one of the most difficult and fast dances by many dancers and studios. One of the greatest contributions was it led to the development of other Latin dances such as Salsa and Cha-Cha. Some people described Salsa as a slowed down mutated version of Mambo, while Cha-Cha as a slower triple rhythm version of …show more content…
Torres is a New York dancer and a Mambo expert who makes the Mambo sway in the ballroom once again. He steadily gains his reputation as the Mambo King and he runs a studio in Midtown New York City that specialized in Mambo and Salsa dance. According to a recent interview, he believed now is a great time for Latin American dances. ‘The Mambo is hot now, like it was in the 50s. It is a dance with many influences such as African, Cuban, Jazz, Hip-Hop, even some ballet. You’ll never run out of steps.’ say Torres. His style of Mambo dance is more Americanized and as a street style dance that he developed out of what he saw on the Bronx streets in New