10. THE MAMBO

The Mambo is an outgrowth of the Rhumba. In fact, it has been called swinging the Rhumba. The basic Mambo Time Step has a forward and backward movement, whereas in the Rhumba the motion is primarily In place or a side motion. Like the Rhumba it does not travel, but is danced practically in one spot. There are three basic beats and a pause to each measure of the music. The steps are of equal valuation, each one requiring one quarter beat of music.

There is a disagreement among dance authorities as to which beat in the music should take the open beat or pause in the dance. The author favors placing the pause on the first beat of the music, while the feet are together and the body is in a relaxed position.

The Mambo may be syncopated by employing what is known as the Cha Cha Cha, which will be explained in detail later.

The Mambo rhythm may be described thus:

2

3

4

During this  blank space which indicates the pause,  the  feet are together,  no  step is taken—think of it as a pause, thus you may count the Basic Mambo Time Step as:

Pause

2

3

4

MAMBO TIME STEP—No.  1

The important thing to remember is that Count 1 is a pause with feet together. Then after the boy steps forward on count two, he should lean slightly backward, so that the body weight will be over the right foot when it steps In place on count three. Bring left foot TOGETHER on count four, and pause through count one before stepping backward on right foot for count two.

Starting Position:                Feet together.   Position Apart.

Pause	Forward—L	In place—R	Together
1	2	3	4

Pause	Backward—R	In place—L	Together
1	2	3	4

Girl does step described in Line 2 while boy does Line 1, and when boy does Line 2, girl does Line 1.

BODY POSITION

This step should be practiced with partner        in open position as shown below. Then

after you become more skillful, move into           closed position.

MAMBO TIME STEP NO. 2

Here, the direction is not forward and backward, but from one side to the other:

MAMBO TIME STEP NO. 3

Note here that the forward action is not counterbalanced by a backward step:

Pause	Diag. Cross Front—L	In place—R	Together
1	2	3	4
Pause	Diag. Cross Front—R	In place— L	Together—R
1	2	3	4

The Time Step can be done while doing a step turn: Each time the left foot steps forward, step slightly diagonally forward, and turn the toe out away from the body. This will turn you to the left. Each time the right foot steps backward, step slightly diagonally backward, and turn the toe in toward the body. Always turn the toe in the direction of the turn.

The word "slightly" above is accented because the movement must be fundamen­tally forward or backward. If the diagonal movement has too much of a side move­ment, you will lose the step. Thus, the turn should be gradual. Use several time steps to execute the turn.

TURNING TO THE RIGHT: Each time the left foot steps forward, step slightly diagonally Cross Front. Turn your left toe in—the direction you are turning. Each time you step back with the right foot, step slightly diagonally Cross Back. Turn your right toe out, the direction you are going. Keep facing your partner throughout the step.

MAMBO TURN TO LEFT

This picture will show you the general foot directions needed to execute the Mambo Turn to the Left. Each time you step for­ward, remember to step slightly diagonally forward, and each time you step backward, step slightly diagonally backward. The in-place step is always in the center of the circle. Thus:

BOY'S PART:

Pause	Forward—L	In place—R	Together—L
1	2	3	4
Pause	Back—R	In place—L	Together—R
5	6	7	8

On this step, let your forward with the left foot step go to Figure 1 on the chart, and backward step with right foot to Figure 5. Now that your rhythm is established, you are ready to start the turn:

Pause	Diag. Forward—L	In place—R	Together—L
	Toe Out	Toe In
1	2	3	4
Pause	Diag- Back—R	In place—L	Together—R
	Toe In	Toe Out
5	6	7	8

Here the diagonally forward step on your left foot goes to Figure 2 on the chart; the diagonally backward step goes to Figure 6. Next time your left foot goes to Figure 3; your right foot back to Figure 7. In this manner you continue until you have completed your turn.

To turn to the right, you merely step diagonally Cross Front to Figure 8; diagonally Cross Back to Figure 4, and continue until you have completed the turn to the right.

GIRL'S PART:

Girl may practice the boy's part on this step, as her foot work, after the step is in motion, is exactly the same as the boy's. The only difference being that she always starts the step by stepping backward on her right.

MAMBO DIAGONAL CROSS FRONT TIME STEP

While doing the Mambo Time Step in Closed Position as shown in Figure 1, above, begin to drift apart until you are in position shown in Figure 2. In Figure 3, boy steps diagonally Cross Front with left foot, while girl steps diagonally Cross Front with right foot. While doing this, the boy's left shoulder should move toward his partner, as her right shoulder moves toward him. The In place step follows, as boy steps in place with right foot and girl steps in place with left foot as shown in Figure 4.

The together step as shown in Figure 5: Boy brings left foot together to right foot as girl brings right foot to left foot. While doing this step, he takes both her hands and prepares to lead her into the other direction. In Figure 6, boy leads girl into Cross Front. He steps Cross Front on his right foot as she steps Cross Front on her left foot. Note that he is now using his right hand only. Figure 7: The In place step—boy steps in place with left foot while girl steps in place with right foot. Figure 8: Couple join hands as he steps together with his right foot, and she steps together with her left foot. The couple is now ready to repeat the entire step or go into a turn as described on the following pages.

BOY'S PART:

Pause	Cross Front—L	In place—R	Together—L
1	2	3	4
Pause	Cross Front—R	In place—L	Together—R
5	6	7	8

GIRL'S PART:

Pause	Cross Front—R	In place—L	Together—R
1	2	3	4
Pause	Cross Front—L	In place—R	Together—L
5	6	7	8

MAMBO TURN FROM DIAGONAL CROSS FRONT TIME STEP

Figure 9: Boy starts Diagonal Cross Front Time Step as his right foot steps Diagonally Cross Front. Girl steps Diagonally Cross Front on her left foot— at this point, boy gives girl's hand a push and starts her turning to her right. Boy starts turn to left as he releases her hand. Figure 10: On In place Step, boy turns left toe out as girl turns right toe out. Be sure that the In place step is EXACTLY in place. Boy now does pivot turn to left on left foot as girl does pivot turn to right. Figure 11: Coming out of pivot turn, boy brings right foot together to left foot, as girl brings left foot to right foot. SPECIAL NOTE: This turn does not travel—it is executed in place. Figure 12: Boy takes girl's hand during Pause Count and leads her into Diagonal Cross Front Step on other side—Boy: Diagonal Cross Front left—Girl —Diagonal Cross Front right. Figure 13: In place Step—Boy steps right foot In place as girl steps left foot In place. Figure 14: Together Step—Boy brings left foot to right foot, as girl brings right foot to left foot. From this position, boy may: Push the  girl's  hands  and lead  her  into the basic Mambo Step as she steps back on her right foot. Release her left hand and lead her into diag­ onal Cross Front to the other side.

MAMBO—"HALF-TURN-STEP'

BOY'S PART:

Pause	Forward—L	In place—R	Together—L
1	2	3	4
Pause	Backward—R	In place—L	Together—R*
1	2	3	4

(* Start a HALF WAY AROUND PIVOT TURN on your left foot, turning backward to your right.)

When you bring your right foot together to your left foot, you should be facing with your back to your partner.

Now, with your back to your partner do the entire step again, exactly as written, and when you finish it YOU WILL BE FACING YOUR PARTNER AGAIN.

GIRL'S PART:

Pause	Backward—R	In place—L*	Together—R**
1	2	3	4
Pause	Forward—L	In place—R	Together—L
1	2	3	4

(*Girl starts HALF WAY AROUND PIVOT TURN on her RIGHT foot turning backward to her left.)

(**When she brings her left foot together to her right foot she should be facing with her back to her partner. NOW, with her back to her partner, the girl repeats the entire step exactly as it is written and when she completes it this time she will be facing her partner again.

Each partner should occupy the same spot at the end of half-turn as occupied when facing each other. First, practice at a distance (see illustration to the left) until you can turn without bump­ing your partner. After you have become more skillful, move in closer. (See illustration to the right.)

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here….