Mambo Timing

This post isn’t strictly about invigilation, but it does relate and I think is worthwhile.  Additionally, this topic is geared specifically towards collegiate and amateur syllabus dancers.

There is one crucial truth about Mambo that syllabus competitors need to know: if you dance on time, and are dancing something that resembles Mambo figures, you will probably advance rounds.  A couple dancing only a Mambo basic for a minute and a half, but perfectly on time, will likely be scored higher than a couple dancing more difficult figures and losing their timing.  I have heard a judge say on a coaching lesson that anyone who is on time in Bronze Mambo automatically makes the Finals. 

Why is Mambo timing so important?  Truthfully, timing is always important, but most couples quickly figure out how to accurately begin on the correct count in their other dances.  A couple who cannot begin on the correct count in Waltz, Rumba, etc., and is off time throughout the dance because of it, would certainly be marked down or not recalled.  With Mambo, everything is magnified by the unusual starting count – a much higher proportion of dancers end up off time than in any other dance in either style. 

So why in the world am I talking about Mambo timing on an invigilation blog?  How does it even relate? 

1.  Technically, by the exact letter of the invigilation rules for both NDCA and USA Dance, any couple who doesn’t “break” on two in Mambo is committing an infraction. 

But much, much more importantly:

2. No invigilator would ever call a couple up for breaking on the wrong beat in Mambo.

This situation highlights an important aspect of invigilation as a whole, which is that the essence of keeping a level playing field is reducing obvious advantages.  A couple who can dance higher level figures well has an obvious advantage.  A couple dancing – I hate to say it – poorly does not have an advantage over the other couples in their heat.

Learn Mambo timing well first, then build up your routine with figures (that you can still keep on time).  As with so many areas of ballroom dancing, simple things executed well are a better choice than difficult things executed poorly.