Mambo

Mambo is a Latin dance of Cuban origin that corresponds to Mambo music. Mambo music was invented in the 1930s Havana by Cachao and his contemporaries, and made popular around the world by Perez Prado and Beny Moré. Mambo music developed from Danzón and was heavily influenced by the Jazz musicians that the Italian-American gangsters, who controlled Havana’s casinos, brought to entertain their American customers.
In the late 1940s, 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, where his music and dance were adopted. The original Mambo dance was characterized by freedom and complicated foot-steps. Some Mexican entertainers became well known; dancers like Tongolele, Adalberto Martínez, Rosa Carmina, Tin tan and Lilia Prado. Most of these accompanied Prado in live presentations or were seen in Mexican films.
The original form of the dance and music are alive and well in Cuba and in taught in dance studios in Mexico City.

Music Examples:

1. Mambo #5 by Lou Bega
2. Sway (Mucho Mambo) by Shaft
3. Paris Mambo by Trinidad Steel Band