Mambo is a Latin dance of Cuban origin that corresponds to mambo music. It is rhythmically similar to the slower rumba, though it has a more complex pattern of steps. The saxophone usually sets the syncopated rhythm, while the other brass carries the melody.

In the late 1940s, a musician named Perez Prado came up with the dance for the mambo music and became the first person to market his music as "mambo". After Havana, Prado moved his music to Mexico, and then New York City. Along the way, his style became increasingly homogenized in order to appeal to mainstream American listeners.

There were two forms of mambo dance: single and triple (sometimes called double mambo). The former one has been retained as modern mambo; the latter one is thought to be an origin of the Cha-cha-cha.

Mambo is at the roots of the Salsa dance and is a part of the American Rhythm group of American Style ballroom dances.

The rhythm of steps is unusual in comparison to most other dances. It can be counted as "quick-quick-slow", the first "quick" is on the beat 2 of the measure and the "slow" step crosses the boundary of the musical measure and performed on counts "4", "1".

Basic pattern

The basic pattern or "Basic Step" of Mambo consists of two halves: Forward Basic and Backward Basic. When a man dances The Forward Basic, the lady dances the Backward Basic and vice versa.

The steps are performed with Cuban hip motion .

There are three steps per measure. they start on the second beat of the measure and cued "(pause)-Two-Three-Four".

Count "One" is often described as "pause" or "hold", while in fact the body motion and Cuban hip motion do not stop.

Forward Basic

Count 2: Step forward by left foot

Count 3: Replace weight on the right foot

Counts 4,1: Step sideways. (Variant: Step backwards, often used by "Salsa on 2" dancers) Weight is transferred comletely on count 4.

Backward Basic

Count 2: Step backward by right foot

Count 3: Replace weight on the left foot

Counts 4,1 Step sideways. (Variant: Step forward, often used by "Salsa on 2" dancers).

The footsteps of the Mambo Basic form on the floor a so-called "diamond pattern".

This step pattern is similar to that of International Style Rumba and resembles cha-cha-cha. Rumba is much slower. Cha-cha-cha uses triple step (chasse ) on "4-and-1", rather than a single slow step.

The first two steps of the Forward Basic are sometimes called "Forward Break " or "Rock Forward ". The first two steps of the Backward Basic are sometimes called "Rock Backwards ", rock back, back rock, or simply Rock Step .