MAMBO FIGURES

Mambo—4 beats/measure; 44 - 50 meas/min

Mambo originated in Cuba and is their national dance. It came to the United States in the '40s and became widely popular in the early '50s. As a first approximation, mambo is a fast rumba. Many of the figures are the same as in rumba or cha-cha, but to get them done in much less time, you must take smaller, sharper steps with a somewhat tighter hold. Where rumba is smooth, mambo is quick and sharp.

Each figure has a staccato, rocking appearance and then a pause as though you are catching your breath before the next figure. Given the speed, the hip action is less pronounced. Take each step on the inside edge of the foot early in the beat, then shift weight to the flat at the end of the beat and straighten the leg. Taking weight and flexing the off knee draws the supporting hip in the direction of the step, so the appearance is that of stepping with the foot and then the hip. The timing would be something like "&/1" — "edge/flat." Count: &1, &2, &3, pause; but count fast.

FIGURE AND COUNT	STEPS	In Freestyle, You Could Try This (see rumba figures too)
Basic qqs; qqs;	In closed or butterfly position, step forward, recover, side, -; back, recover, side, -; One might be asked to do a half basic or forward basic, the first measure of this figure; or a back basic, the second measure.	In the Kincaids' Let's Mambo Tonight, the dance begins with a cucaracha left & right;; full basic;; new yorker to reverse and kick to line; knee swivels; new yorker to reverse and kick to line; side walk to reverse; to a scallop;;
Progressive Basic phase IV qqs; qqs;	In closed, butterfly, or left open facing position, rock forward L (woman back R), recover R, back small step on L, -; rock back R, recover L, and small forward R, -;
Mambo Walks qqs;	fwd, fwd, fwd, -;
New Yorkers qqs; qqs;	In a facing position, both step through with lead foot to left open reverse, rec to face, sd, -; step through with trail to open line, rec to face, sd, -;	basic;; new yorker; spot turn;
Spot Turns qqs; qqs;	Both cross in front with lead feet and turn away, recover and continue turning to face, sd, -; cross in front with trail feet and turn away opposite direction, recover continue turning to face, sd, -;
Open Break qqs;	In a facing position holding lead hands, both rock apart on lead foot trail hands up palms out, recover, and step side, -;	open break; whip; chase;;;; open break; whip back to wall;
Break qqs;	To break is to step back and maybe cross behind. Then you recover and step to some indicated position. The cue might be break back to open, in which case, you would cross behind with the lead foot turning LF (woman RF) to open position, recover on the trail foot, and step forward on the lead still in open position, -; Or you might be asked to break back to face, in which case, you would cross behind turning to open, recover turning back to face partner, and then step side to a facing position, -; The break can begin with either foot.	In the Worlocks' Jack Is Back, you are facing wall and partner in handshake for a break and pull pass. This is simply one measure in which you break apart L (woman apart R), pull right hands passing right shoulders, and step forward (man to wall; woman toward center). The dance continues with a chase turn to left handshake; break & pull pass; chase turn to join lead hands; break & wrap to face reverse; and wheel to face line;
Natural Top phase IV? qqs;	In closed position, reverse line of dance, cross right behind left and turn in a tight circle RF, step side turning to face wall, close;	Half basic to a natural top. (In such a sequence, turn the half basic 1/4 RF to prepare for the top.)
Chase qqs; qqs; qqs; qqs;	Facing partner, step fwd L (woman back R) and turn RF 1/2, recover, fwd, -; This puts you in tandem both facing center. Step forward and both turn (man LF and woman RF), recover, fwd, -; At the end of the second measure, you are in tandem, both facing wall. Step forward she trn 1/2 LF, rec, bk, -; bk, rec, fwd, -; You end in facing position as at the start.
Cross Body phase IV qqs; qqs;	Facing partner & wall, step forward L (woman back R), rec, sd turning LF (woman steps fwd to "L position"), -; step back continuing to turn LF (woman fwd turning LF), step fwd (woman fwd turning 1/2 LF), and side to butterfly center, -;	In Easterday's Jambo Mambo, there is a half basic to a cross body twice;;;; and then a vine 8;;
Aida phase IV qqs;	Facing partner & wall trail feet free XIF stepping through to line beginning to turn in (man RF woman LF), fwd continuing turn, bk to V back-to-back position man facing rev & cntr woman facing rev & wall, -; (may begin to reverse with lead feet)	half basic; aida; roll to reverse and face; cucaracha to semi; scallop;;
Roll qqs;	In aida position step fwd turn in 1/2, bk continue turn, fwd turn to face partner and wall, -;	In the Easterdays' Who's Got the Mambo?, there is a forward basic facing line of dance (woman reverse); both roll RF to reverse; natural top to face wall;; and cucaracha twice;;
Scallop phase IV qqs; qqs;	In a loose closed position, cross lead foot behind trail foot, recover, and step side, -; step thru, sd, cl, -; Keep your shoulders parallel and even hold eye-contact. Swivel at the hips but don't open your top-lines. End in butterfly or closed position. As you take each side step, trace a curve on the floor — the Scallop is named for these "scalloped" arcs.	Again from Jambo Mambo: open break; natural top; scallop;; repeat;;;; Or, scallop;; scallop;; scallop;; side walk 3 to bfly; fence line;
Patty Cake Tap phase IV ss;	In left open position facing reverse, lift trail knee swivel in to face partner pat trail hands and point trail feet thru toward line no wt, -, lift trail knee again and swivel back out again to left open and step back, -; (one weight change total)	cross body to l open line;; back basic; patty cake tap; back basic; patty cake tap; back basic; kiki walk 3; new yorker to face; whip back to wall;
Diamond Turn With Hops phase V? qqs; qqs; qqs; qqs;	This is a waltz or fox-trot figure, but if you add the hops, it becomes latin!? In closed position wall or line, step fwd L turning LF to bjo, sd turning, bk, lift right knee and hop back a little still on left (three weight changes and a quarter turn left in each measure); bk R, sd, fwd, hop fwd; fwd, sd, bk, hop; bk, sd, fwd, hop; (end in starting position)	In the Schmidts' Mambo Tequila, the dance begins with two cucarachas;; diamond turn with hops;;;; to a full basic;; new yorker; and underarm turn;
Vine qqqq;	In loose closed, step side, behind, side, in front;	Repeat for a vine 8
Arm Check phase V qqs; qqs;	In left open facing position, rock apart L (woman apart R), recover R, and step side and forward L toward woman's left side (woman forward R toward man's right side) release joined lead hands and take woman's left wrist in man's right hand, -; In second measure, he steps forward R turning 1/2 LF and leading woman to spin 1 & 1/2 RF in 3 steps with a little push to her L wrist, forward L, close R, -;

Holmes: I'm reminded of the curious case of the Manchurian Mambo--
Watson: Holmes, could I have a word?
Holmes: Yes, what is it?
Watson: I believe the case you're referring to is the Case of the Manchurian Mamba.
Holmes: Mambo, mamba. What's the difference?
Watson: Absolutely nothing, except that one is a deadly poisonous snake, while the other is a festive Carribean dance.
Holmes: It was a night like any other, when suddenly a knock came at the door. I opened it, and there were these Manchurians, doing a rather festive Carribean dance...