Wednesday, May 22, 2013 Which came first, the Mambo or Cha Cha? If you thought that there are similarities between Cha Cha and Mambo, you are right! Believe it or not, the Cha Cha is one of the younger Ballroom dances, and originates from the Mambo. Mambo dates back to the 1930s, and grew most popular in the 50s. …