mambo
mambo — noun
1. a fast partner dance that began in Cuba, where two people move with quick steps
a fast partner dance that began in Cuba, where two people move with quick steps and hip swaying to a strong Latin beat; also refers to the upbeat music written for this style of dancing
Takeshi and his partner won first place performing a fast and clean mambo on stage.
collocation: perform a mambo
The band played a lively mambo, and couples filled the dance floor with quick steps.
Before learning salsa, Nikhil spent six months mastering the basic mambo steps.
Mambo classes at the community center attracted dancers of all ages and skill levels.
The mambo became very popular in the United States during the 1950s.
- salsa
a faster Cuban partner dance developed later in New York, with a distinctive clave rhythm
- rumba
a slower, more romantic Cuban ballroom dance where hip movement is the main focus
- cha-cha
a Cuban dance derived from the mambo, known for its triple-step 'cha-cha-cha' pattern
- samba
a lively Brazilian partner dance with a faster 2/4 beat and bouncing movement
用法筆記
Speakers typically use 'the mambo' when referring to the dance or music in general ('She has been learning the mambo'), and 'a mambo' when talking about a specific musical piece or performance ('The radio played a mambo').