mambo
n.a type of dance that was very popular in the 1950s. It is a fast, energetic style that comes from Cuba and is often seen in movies from that time.
n.a style of Afro-Cuban dance and music that emerged in the 1950s, characterized by complex rhythmic patterns and rapid footwork. Often associated with the Latin dance craze of the mid-twentieth century.
“The dancers performed a fast mambo on the stage.”
“The film features a famous mambo scene that showcases the energetic footwork and hip movements of the era.”
“While the mambo originated from traditional Cuban rhythms, it was popularized in the United States through the competitive dance scene and the influence of professional instructors.”
“Going scene by scene, sometimes line by line (“nobody puts Baby in a corner!”), she steps through each mambo, salsa, cha-cha-cha and merengue, with movement direction by Kristyn Pope.”
From Haitian Creole manbo (“voodoo priestess”) (ultimately from Yoruba mambo (“to talk”)), in later senses via Cuban Spanish mambo (“dance”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.