'Cuban Pete' is a legendary dancer known worldwide for his talent and passion for the Mambo. He has won scores of prizes for his innovative movements which have now become standards in Latin Dance. In the 1950's he was known as 'King of the Latin Beat', the 'Maestro of Mambo' and the 'The Prince of the Palladium.'

   Although not Cuban, Pedro Aquilar, aka 'Cuban Pete' got his name from Desi Arnaz and his song entitled "Cuban Pete" in the 1950's. Pedro was Born in Puerto Rico and moved to New York with his family as a child. Pedro had a rough child hood (orphanage) finally being reunited with his family at age 19. Pedro learned how to dance at a young age, and again seriously in 1950, taking lessons from his mother 'Nellie Trujillo Masdeu', his first dance teacher, as well as Katherine Dunham, however, he says he was really never formerly trained in dance.