Mambo Lessons Toronto
If you’d like to learn to dance Mambo for your wedding (remember the “Dirty Dancing” movie?), for fun and to make your social life more exciting or to prepare for Ballroom competitions, Mambo Lessons Toronto are perfect for you!
Mambo Lessons Toronto: Social Dancing
Definitely, Mambo is such a fun dance to do socially. Furthermore, you can come to the dance class alone and meet many other solos to dance with or bring your partner and learn a new hobby together. If you are interested in the Mambo, try learning it together with the Salsa, Cha Cha, Rumba, Bachata, and Merengue. These are all dance styles of the same family and have plenty of similar features and patterns which makes it easy to learn them all at the same time.
Mambo Lessons Toronto: Wedding Dance
You must have seen the classic movie “Dirty Dancing” and heard about the Mambo. Whether you want to learn the exact routine from the movie or have a unique dance routine created specifically for you, Access Ballroom‘s private consultation is the perfect place to start. First, you will meet your dance teacher, then discuss the details of your wedding and get some valuable tips about your wedding dance. We will then build a personalized wedding dance program for you to help you make your first wedding dance memorable.
“My wife and I booked 10 lessons with Gil to learn the Dirty Dancing routine for our first dance, so far we have really enjoyed our lessons and excited to show everyone what we have practiced at our wedding. We would like to thank Gill again for showing great humor and professionalism to a couple both born with two left foot.” – David W., Access Ballroom student, Google maps review
Mambo Lessons Toronto: Ballroom Competitions
Want to take your dancing to another level? Always dreamed to be the center of the glamour, the lights, the glitter, and the polished dance floor? It is time to enter into a Pro-Am Ballroom competition and enjoy your dance growth!
About Mambo
What is dancing without music? In this blog post, we’ll look at the history of the Mambo music, it’s characteristics, and then how it developed into dance and what we know as the Mambo nowadays.
Mambo Music
History of Mambo Music
Cuba with its rich culture and talented musicians is the country of origin for Mambo music. This fast-tempo dance beat began its history in the late 1930s from smaller Cuban big bands that merged the elements of Son into the Danzón.
The peak of Mambo’s popularity was in the 1950s. Interestingly, Cuba was not the one to popularize Mambo music. In fact, it mainly developed in two cities where the music was presented by the Cuban musicians: René Hernandez in New York City and Dámaso Pérez Prado in Mexico City.
Characteristics of Mambo Music
Mambo’s main characteristic is the big band arrangements where multiple saxophones play repeated syncopated phrases, blaring trumpets punctuate the beat, all over a full rhythm and percussion section. Moreover, you can hear a variety of percussive instruments, including maracas and cowbells, that set the rhythm in Mambo. The tempo of Mambo also varies from song to song and can range anywhere from 32 beats per minute to a challenging 56 beats per minute. This diversity in Mambo may be quite confusing for beginners; however, this is what makes Mambo so fascinating and fun.
Mambo Dance
Characteristics of Modern-Day Mambo Dance
The Mambo uses the 4/4 beat and the basic step in Mambo is counted as “quick-quick-slow,” with the foot moving on the second beat or on 2.
Moreover, one of the main characteristics of Mambo dance is forward and backward motion with a distinctive hip movement called “the Cuban motion.” This creates the flirtatious, sensual and playful feel to the dance.
Here is a fun video breaking-down the Cuban motion by one of Access Ballroom’s dance instructors.
Mambo as the Foundation of Cha Cha and Salsa
Fun fact: Cha Cha and Salsa dance styles both derived from the Mambo. Learn more about each dance by clicking on the links.
New to Access Ballroom?
Call 416-690-3900 or email info@studioaccessballroom.com to set up your trial private lesson/consultation! We look forward to dancing with you!