How to Do a Mambo Forward & Back Step | Ballroom Dance

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Aaron: Hi guys. It's Aaron.

Christina: And I'm Christina.

Aaron: And we are professional dance instructors here in New York City and today we're going to be talking about a little dance called the Mambo, and more specifically we're going to be taking a look at a step, just the basic action here, forward and back. So what we're going to do today is we're going to start with our left leg and we're going to count this out as we take a step forward. Two, three, four, one. Two, three, four, one. Two, three, four, one. Two, three, four, one.

So taking a look at that again, starting with our left leg, we're taking a step forward, forward, replacing our weight back on our right leg. Replace, and stepping together as we hold the one and rock back again on our right, two, three, together, and again, coming forward, two, three, four, one. Two, three, four, one. Two, three, four, one. Two, three, four, one.

Christina: So ladies, we are starting right now with the gentlemen on their left foot, but when we dance it together we'll be starting backward on our right foot. And just a note for guys and girls. Keep theses steps very, very small and compact, underneath your body. The Mambo is really kind of a fast and fun dance. It does not really travel very much so begin able to keep smaller steps will help you keep in time with the music.

Aaron: Now let's take a look at that with a partner and also note that we're using several different hand holds here in this dance, going from our basic closed position, to a two hand hold, to one hand, and also the handshake hold as well, as sometimes we're going to enter some more advanced turns and spins with different hand holds, sometimes over and under, and any combination of the two.

So let's take a look again at that basic action with a partner now, starting, one, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. Two, three, four. Two, three, four, one. Two, three, four, one. Two, three, four, one. Two, three, four, one. Two, three, four.

And that's how you do the basic action, forward and back, in the Mambo.

Christina: Let's try that to some music.

[igorg.]

Thank you for keeping this tutorial simple and basic. Now I can practice these steps.

[Bose]

Thanks for the tutorial. I like mambo when i first saw dirty dancing

[DC-xjen]

Agree that any dance step should be first shown from behind- for someone trying to first see the step from front then trying to reverse the footwork to move correctly is just adding extra mind twister.

[charlessmith]

Keenly, since I was trained a lot in salsa dancing, I do know that since Mambo had Cuban roots, that is why generally, the strong beat in Mambo is on the "2" and not the "1". So the mantra here in this mambo basic step is this - if you do not hold on beat 1 in this step - you are not doing it right, and if you start on "1", you are also not doing it right.

[brianmcd]

Lovely Erin looking great as always.The steps look easier if you say 1, 2 hold 1, 2 hold 🙂

[gabriellejosef-marie]

You should show from behind. It’s easier to follow.

[bumbarumbado]

this step is usually used in freestyle hiphop... I like it!

[johnlepera]

Differences - Technically, Ballroom Mambo steps 2, 3, 4 with hard hold on 1 (don't move). Salsa steps 1, 2, 3 with soft hold on 4 (swaying).

[michelleauten]

Got a visual of dirty dancing and the scene where Patric swaze had his hands on Jennifer Grey's hips, teaching her...😊...a message I got from my grizzly...only I understand... A message from his soul to mine...

[TTiger]

What song are they using? It sounds amazing!

[Hannah-rlng]

appreciate that video to teach us. As I learned from you, your back should towards camera , so I can follow you. Thank you. Just a suggestion as a learner to your video.

[queenXdynamix]

Make it interesting by doing it fast and shaking dem hips

[shippermd]

Is this the same dance done in Dirty Dancing movie?

[tumichalatse]

Does anyone know what music they're using please ??😭

[SK-gsvs]

How is this different than salsa on 2? A little confused.

[chloebasch]

excellent performance will defintly use during intercourse thank you so much!

[ronwhitehouse]

I just do not understand the counting at all.Some teachers do not count like this they omit number 4.and count 1 2 3 5 6 7. Wy not here?

[dorindatodd]

So the mambo steps are the same as the salsa. I had a few salsa lessons and these are the same timing and steps so why not say so

[fchazaro]

Sorry: that's not mambo is salsa ... Greetings from Mexico

[iMichaelNice]

This is true mambo, not Eddie Torres N.Y 2