Which Cuban-origin ballroom dance features an ensemble with double bass, bongo, tumbadora, trumpets, guitar, vocals, and cowbell?

• A. Waltz
• B. Mambo
• C. Kabuki
• D. Pipa

Answer: (B)

This question is about recognizing the Cuban-origin ballroom dance that is paired with a big Latin band sound. The ensemble described—double bass, bongo, tumbadora (conga), trumpets, guitar, vocals, and cowbell—fits the standard brass-and-percussion-driven setup of mambo, a high-energy Afro-Cuban dance that became popular in the mid-20th century. The percussion, especially the congas and cowbell, provides the driving, syncopated rhythm that dancers move to, while the brass and rhythm sections carry the lively pulse of the music. The other options don’t match this Cuban, big-band Latin feel: the waltz is European in origin and has a smooth 3/4 rhythm; Kabuki is a Japanese theatrical form; Pipa refers to a Chinese instrument and its music. So the described ensemble best aligns with the mambo.