Danzon is the traditional dance of Cuba. It was created by Miguel Faílde Pérez in 1879 in Havana, Cuba and was originally conceived as a protest against the European dance styles favored by the aristocracy. It's a form dance and involves several couples rather than just a single pair. Around 1910, the Danzon was combined with another style of Cuban dance, the Son. Originating from the eastern part of the island, the Son was a precursor to the Salsa.
In a Rumba, the beat is very important. Danced originally to a drum beat, the Rumba is one of the oldest Cuban dances. There are several different kinds of Rumba (Yambu, Guaguanco and Columbia) and each one has its own different beat. The oldest of these is the Yambu and it also has the slowest beat. When danced in pairs, the Rumba is about flirtation. The Columbia is traditionally done by a solo male dancer to a quick beat and has many complex steps.
The Mambo was created when American vacationers began coming to Havana in droves. It's a combination of Danzon rhythms and the newly popular American Jazz, first envisioned by Orestes Lopez and Israel “Cachao” Lopez. The Mambo can be danced singularly or in pairs to varying tempos. The rhythm is very upbeat, similar to a swing dance. This dance was eventually transported to New York where it underwent further evolution.
In the 1950s, the Danzon and Mambo combined to create the Cha Cha Cha (also known as the Cha Cha). Its name comes from the staccato footsteps of the dancers. Unlike most dances, the Cha Cha Cha is danced offbeat and has a simple procession of foot movements-- three quick steps, two slow steps, pause. Like the Mambo and the Rumba, the Cha Cha Cha is a very fluid dance with a lot of pelvic motion.
A fun and lively dance that can be done by people regardless of their dancing abilities is the Comparsa or, as it's more commonly known, the Conga Line. This dance originates in the Carnivals of Santiago de Cuba and involves people dancing in procession while a band playing both percussion and horn instruments follows. The dancers and musicians typically wear brightly colored costumes, which adds to the playful atmosphere of the dance.