Latin dance is passionate, expressive, romantic and suggestive. There are three leading types of Latin dance: Tango, Samba and Mambo. When these Latin-type dances were created, they were considered risqué, a bit like "dirty dancing." The dances became more acceptable as time went by and are now popular ballroom dances that are mesmerizing to watch.
Instructions
The standard dress in which to perform this dance was a full skirt for women and gauchos and boots with spurs for the macho men. The "Dance With a Stop," as it was called, was renamed the Tango in the early 1900s when it became popular in Paris.2.1. Note that the Tango originated in Spain in the early 1800s and was a dance for women to dance without a partner. Around 1850, Spanish settlers in Argentina made the dance popular there, and it evolved into a dance for two. It was considered very risqué in that century, as the man and woman danced so closely together, pressing their bodies into one another as they performed the dance with passion.
Know that the word "Mambo" means "Voodoo Priestess" in Haitian. It is thought the dance originated in Haiti and was brought to Cuba later on. The Mambo became popular because of Perez Prado's influence as a top musician. He first brought the Mambo to the Tropicana Club in Havana, Cuba, in 1943. The dance then took off in America in the 1950s, although its popularity faded as the dance was hard to perform. This led to the development of the easier version of the dance, The Cha-Cha-Cha, which became immensely popular with Americans.
3. Study Samba's origins, which has African roots. "Semba," which meant "belly-touching," is an Angolan word, and was used as an invitation to dance. The Samba started as a Brazilian folk dance in Rio de Janeiro by African carnival workers performing there. It became popular as a ballroom dance in 1917. Incorporating speed, agility, body rolls and bends, the Samba is mostly performed by professional dancers because of its grueling moves. Fred Astaire made the dance popular by performing it in 1933 in the movie "Flying Down to Rio."
