Mambo

The fusion of Swing and Cuban music produced this fascinating rhythm and in turn created a new sensational dance. Its beginning was probably around 1944. The Mambo could not have been conceived earlier since until that time Cuba and the American Jazz were still not wedded.

It was originally played by some musicians in 2/4 time with a break, or emphasis, on the 2 and 4. Native Cubans or musicians without any training would break on any beat. The Mambo is fairly fast and is a dance perhaps more suited to intermediate and advanced dancers than to beginners.