The 2015 Capital Congress is proud to recognize Tommy “Mr Mambo” Smith as a pioneer of the Salsa scene in the DC area.

A native Washingtonian, Tommy Smith has been dancing Mambo & Salsa for years in the DC Metro Area. He is one of the few people still active in the Salsa/Mambo community today who can say he actually danced socially at the World Renowned NYC Palladium Club in its Heyday! After spending time building a resume in the DC clubs as a Mambo Dance Prodigy as a teenager, he later transitioned to the music side as a Musician playing the Congas and ultimately Co-Founded a Salsa Band called the Los Latinos. This Band has the great history of giving a musical start to the Late Guitar Virtuoso and Legendary Godfather of GO-GO Music Chuck Brown when Tommy hired him as a guitarist for the band. After burning out from Salsa Mambo, Tommy turned his Dance attention to the developing Hand-Dancing scene in DC which was birthed from the Salsa Mambo Scene. He was pulled back into the DC Salsa Scene in 1995 by a friend who was telling him about all of the Salsa Clubs that were starting to attract crowds. He started frequenting the clubs again and was instantly recognized as someone who knew what he was doing on the Dancefloor. While at the Legendary Wednesday Night DC Salsa Party at Zanzibars in the late 1990s, someone crowned him Mr. Mambo and the name has stuck ever since. Because of his vast knowledge and obvious technique in Salsa and Mambo, he started getting requests to teach Mambo in various Dance Studios and Clubs. He has been the Resident Salsa Teacher at DC Dance Collective since 1998 and started the Mr. Mambo’s Salsa Social in 2005, the longest running Salsa Social in DC. After a successful Eight Year Run at the DC Dance Collective, Tommy Moved the Mr. Mambo’s Salsa Social to the Hollywood Ballroom in Silver Spring, MD where it is held today every 2nd and 4th Sat of the month. It goes without saying that Mr. Mambo aka Tommy Smith is Well-Respected and Beloved in the DC Salsa Community.

Tommy has run the longest running social in the DC area, namely “The Mr Mambo Social”. The Mr. Mambo social was born in 2005 and, while it has grown to different locations, it always maintains a spirit of welcoming, and encouraging all dancers to enjoy their life on the dance floor.

Mr. Mambo’s Philosophy:

I believe Dancing is the secret to eternal joy, which leads to good health and longevity. With our help, you just might experience “The Joy that comes when one catches the spirit of Mambo/Salsa and the thrill of being one with the Music.

We encourage you to share in the award ceremony on Saturday June 13, 2015, which will also feature the Grammy nominated New Swing Sextet. Dance with Tommy, party with New Swing, and experience the Capital Congress!