The Mambo was originally characterized by complicated footsteps but evolved over time. Rosa Carmina and Lilia Prado were among the popular Mexican entertainers to adopt this dance form. Today, it is one of the most sensual Latin American Ballroom dance forms where hip and arm movements, and facial expressions are all a part of the routine. The original Mambo features no basic steps or breaking steps, which was why it wasn’t accepted by several professional dance instructors. It was more of a music that the dancers had to feel in order to merge sound and movement through the body. It was standardized by US professional dance teachers to make it more socially acceptable for the ballroom market.
The Cha Cha Cha or simply Cha Cha is a fast rhythmic dance of Cuban origin and among of first to be included in ballroom dancing. One of the distinct qualities of this dance form is found not in the steps by in the beat it is danced to. Enrique Jorrin, a Cuban composer and violinist introduced the music for the Cha Cha which consists of a 4/4 beat. The origin of the name is even more interesting. It comes from the sound derived from the rhythm of the scraper and the shuffling of the dancers’ feet.