The mambo is a very fun dance to learn. But before you jump into learning it, there are a few things you need to know. These include the basics of how to dance mambo and some of the most influential mambo dancers. Once you’ve mastered those basics, you’re ready to start taking your dancing skills to the next level.
Perez Prado
The Cuban musical and dance innovator Perez Prado was instrumental in the popularity of the Mambo dance. He was also one of the first musicians to market this music in the United States.
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Mambo became a popular dance. This was a form of Latin dancing that was popular in the United States and Mexico. The popularity of the dance was particularly pronounced in New York and Mexico City. During this period, Perez Prado introduced the Mambo dance to the world at the La Tropicana nightclub in Havana.
In addition to the Mambo dance, Perez Prado was a musician and composer. His big band style Mambos were distinctive in that they featured fiery brass riffs and grunts. They also stand out because of the strong sax counters.
Prado also pioneered a salsa dance style. As a result, he arranged songs for the famous Cuban band Gapar Roca de la Peer.
Although he was born in Havana, Cuba, he moved to Mexico in 1948. While still in his mid-20s, he developed his own unique rhythmic ideas. When he moved to the United States in 1949, he signed a contract with RCA Victor.
In the US, Perez Prado hit the charts at number one for 10 consecutive weeks with the song “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.” After falling off the charts for two years, his albums continued to sell well.
However, his popularity began to wane by 1960. By 1963, RCA had discontinued releasing his music in the U.S. Meanwhile, he was beginning to record material in Central and South America.
Though he did not have a huge influence in the United States, he was influential in the Latin world. He continued to record in Latin countries until the early 1970s. A documentary about Perez, entitled King of Mambo: The Story of Perez Prado, offers a fascinating look at his achievements.
‘The King of Mambo’ takes viewers on a journey through the lives of Perez and the other people he influenced. It includes interviews with the mambo dancers and musicians who helped define the dance.
Double mambo
The Mambo is a dance which originated in Cuba. It was popularized in 1940s, when its music genre became popular in Latin America. Today, it is one of the most exciting dances to come from the Caribbean.
Mambo is characterized by its staccato movements. The basic shape of the Mambo is a step back left, a forward right and then a break. These steps form the “diamond pattern”.
When moving forward, the mambo dancers sway their hips. When returning, they do the opposite. This movement is called the Cuban motion.
On the second count, the lead dancer steps forward with the right foot and holds. He breaks on the fourth beat and moves the left foot over to the left side. The break is followed by a slow forward step.
On the fifth beat, the partner dancer breaks forward and shifts his weight onto the left leg. On the sixth beat, the partner moves back with the right foot.
There are various variations of mambo. While the traditional mambo did not have a specific structure, the modern version was influenced by Jazz musicians of the 1930s.
For the sake of simplicity, we will concentrate on the basic mambo steps. The “Drag-Her-Around” move is one of these.
A similar movement is the twist. The “Drag-Her-Around” involves a 180-degree pivot turn. You will need to learn these in a ballroom dancing studio.
Mambo is an exciting dance with lots of press lines and swivels. It is considered the logical predecessor to the Cha-cha-cha.
One of the first versions of the mambo was played by timbales. The music is generally between 188 and 204 beats per minute. To keep up, be sure to dance at a fast rate.
The Mambo is a fusion of Swing and Cuban music. It is usually danced as the fifth and final dance in American Rhythm five dance competitions. If you are interested in learning the mambo, it is recommended to get lessons at a dance studio. Generally, Mambo music is 4/4 meter.
Another variant of the mambo is the triple mambo. Some sources claim that the triple mambo is the true ancestor of the cha-cha-cha.
Influencers
Mambo, a dance originating in Cuba, is a popular ballroom dance. It is also popular as a social dance. This dance is performed by both competitive and non-competitive dancers. The dance features a syncopated rhythm that is similar to salsa.
This type of dance is usually played in nightclubs. However, it is now also practiced in Ballroom dancing studios. People love this dance for its high energy level and infectious beat.
The first version of mambo had wild acrobatic movements. This style was not suitable for amateurs. After that, a more complicated dance was developed, which became the modern form of mambo.
In the mid-1950s, the Mambo dance gained popularity in New York. Dancers flocked to the Palladium Ballroom in order to experience the new dance. They could dance together with people of different races. At the same time, segregation was broken as the ballroom became open to all.
Mambo dance was created by a pianist and bandleader named Damaso Perez Prado. He introduced mambo to Mexico in 1943. During the 1950s, he was called the “King of Matanzas.”
A pianist and bandleader, he arranged the mambo music. His Afro-Cubans incorporated jazz instruments with Latin ones.
When the mambo dance came to New York, it was played in nightclubs and resort hotels. People from all over the city would come to the ballroom to dance.
The Palladium Ballroom opened its doors to all. Dancers of all ages and ethnicities found a home at the Palladium. As the Mambo dance spread to cities across the United States, record companies began using the word “mambo” to label their records.
When the dance exploded in New York, it was referred to as “Mambo on two.” Generally, this is a term used to describe the timing of breaks in the steps.
The dance has a wide range of variations. Some of these are a hustle dance, which features spins and wraps. Another is the New York on 2 style.
In this style of dance, the ball of the foot makes the first move. Then, the dancer rolls through the foot, which makes it flat. On the second count of the beat, the dancer breaks forward or to the side.