Mambo

          The origins of the name Mambo is quite ambiguous. It may simply mean “shake it” or “conversation with the gods”. It can also refer to voodoo priestesses in Haiti (life123.com).

In the early 1900's in Cuba, Oresta Lopez, a composer and cellist, created a piece known as the "mambo" mixing everyday Cuban rhythms with the African and south American aspects on the street. The result was a new fusion, and one that supported a continuous beat. (essortment.com)

          It was Perez Prado, a friend of Lopez and a bandleader in Cuba, who combined the movements of American Jazz and the Cuban rhythm labeling the dance “mambo” in 1943.The dance was first introduced in the USA in 1947 in New York City’s Park Plaza Hotel. Four years later, Perez and his company brought Mambo to the USA establishing a new craze (ehow.com, essortment.com).

          The music and dance can be called the successor of Rumba because it is similar in rhythm and hip movement (ehow.com). Also, Mambo is the predecessor of Cha Cha, but more about that next week. 

          Mambo is written to a music in 4/4 time; namely, 4 beats to a bar of music (oocities.org). If we examine the dance carefully, we can see that out of that 4 beats, it is only 3 that the performers fill with movement, every 4^th one is a pause (in professional circles it is every first that is the pause, but I think that is invisible for the viewers).  It is easy to notice that the movements in a bar of music alter in their speed. It is always “quick-quick-slow’ alternation.

          It is a common error of beginners’ that they concentrate on the steps and forget to move their hip along. Always keep in mind: If you shift your weight parallel to the steps, your hips will automatically follow the direction of the movement and this way you do not have to focus if your hip moves or not. Another thing: do not step casually, but point your toe. The difference between the two is the state of the knees. If you step but do not extend your legs during dancing, your legs will seem too flexible like jelly. However, if you always extend your legs and point with your toe at the direction you are stepping, the performance will look much tight. 

          The great part in Mambo is that we are all already familiar with the music. So check out Mambo #5, Mambo Italiano, and Papa Loves Mambo and Shake it!