Many recent hits (I believe they call them R&B) have this underlying "ta ke ta ke ta ke ta ke"- or "pa pa paa"-rhythm. E.g. Torn - Natalie Imbruglia; High - Lighthouse Family; That's the way it is - Celine Dion; You drive me crazy - Britney Spears.

This rhythm to me sounds like in the music of Perez Prado, and makes me want to dance mambo to it, which to me feels good (what probably is what really matters in dancing).

Still, I wonder who else would dance mambo to these recent songs ? Or if someone knows of other dances better suited to dance to this type of 'R&B'-music ?

Thanks for your suggestions.

Erik

I'm firmly convinced that any song can be danced to either, foxtrot, rumba, or mambo. I think Roxy Music's Avalon album is perfect for rumbas, but that has never occured to most people, I get them to do it with me any way. I like to do most East Coast Swings as fast foxtrots, just becuase I think they're more fun that way. In the words of that wise old sage "If it feels good do it!"

If it feels right to you, then by all means, do it! Dancing is movement of the body motivated by music, and if the music motivates you to move in that way, then it must be right.

I don't know if I'd dance Mambo to those songs or not (I've never tried), but I don't see why you can't. Of all of the partner dances you could do, I'd say a Latin dance like Mambo or Cha Cha would probably be the most appropriate. Modern Jazz & Hip Hop are probably more so, but those aren't partner dances.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Atkinson