How to Dance to Mambo Music

The fusion of swing and Cuban music led to the creation of the mambo in the early 1940's. The salsa craze of the 90's brought the mambo and other Latin dances back into popularity in ballrooms and dance competitions. Mambo has its own technique and timing that sets it apart from other Latin dances. This technique can be difficult to master but the basic steps aren't.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Hold your partner's hand with arms extended and elbows slightly bent. Then place your other hand on your his shoulder while he does the same.

2. Understand that mambo music is written in 4/4 time, four beats per measure, but there are actually five steps to one measure of music. The first step is to hold your feet together and raise up on the balls of your feet and then bring your heels back down on the first beat of the music.

3. Slide your left foot forward with toes pointed out slightly to the left on the second beat of the measure.

4. Raise the heel of your right foot and then bring it back to the ground on the third beat of the music. While raising your heel, twist your ankle slightly so your toes move to the right and then back to add a little swinging motion to the movement.

5. Bring your left foot back so that your feet are once again together on the fourth beat.

6. Use a similar rhythm for the next four beats, only this time slide your right foot back on two, lift your left heel and put it back down on three and put your feet together on four.

7. Repeat these movements until you're comfortable with the rhythm and then begin to add a little swinging motion to your mambo dance.

Tips & Warnings

• If you lose the rhythm, just stop and pick it up on the next measure. It's too difficult trying to catch up if you get behind.