Mambo music developed in the 1940’s as American jazz fused with Latin rhythms, particularly from Cuba and Puerto Rico. Cuban danzon (which oddly enough comes from English and French country dances), African folk dance, and American swing all got thrown into the pot to create the dance we now know as mambo. Eventually the popularity of mambo declined, but as all good things come around again, mambo came back again as salsa. People will argue until they drop about the differences between mambo and salsa, but it’s really the same dance with a different attitude. Salsa is freer and more extemporaneous. And the style can vary widely depending on where you are, so there really is no one salsa. My opinion? Listen to the music – do what feels right.