Disrupting Narratives

Unlock the cultural legacy of Corrido songwriting

Historically, the Corrido has been one of the most discriminated musical genres, historically known as as the “poor man’s newspaper.” 

More recently, the Corrido has also been co-opted by the drug cartel’s due to its accessibility. 

In reality, the Corrido is one of the most significant and longstanding song forms that Mexico and its borderlands  have to offer. Corridos were made by ordinary people (El Pueblo) to share and remember their own stories, (since reading and writing were not an option for most.

Through a collaborative Corrido “funshop,” led by Latin Grammy-nominated Amalia Mondragón / Tereso Perfecto Contreras, audiences will learn the art of Corrido writing to amplify underrepresented narratives, commemorate our present and reclaim our past.

About the Corrido Funshop

In this 2-hour interactive class, Amalia Tereso explores the practice of Corrido storytelling. All funshops conclude with a group writing exercise and Corrido performance, preserving the group’s collective experience in a unique, historical song form. Participants will learn:

  • The historical/social significance of Corridos

  • The types of stories Corridos tell

  • The music theory of the Corrido

  • The Corrido Tumbado phenomenon (Corridos today)

The purpose of this collaborative and creative format is to: 

  • Explore the dimensions of Corrido narratives

  • Find new ways of expressing and preserving our stories

  • Practice collective creation as a community

  • Preserve the group’s collective experience

Who is this funshop for?

  • Creative writers

  • Songwriters

  • Scholars, academics and educators

  • Anyone looking to reconnect with their Latinidad

  • Groups seeking team-building experiences

  • Participants age 7 and older

Amalia Mondragón / Tereso Perfecto Contreras

(She/He/They) is a queer two-spirit, Latin Grammy-nominated, vocalist/songwriter and producer from the Chihuahuan desert borderlands of El Paso, Ciudad Juárez, and La Union. Mondragón Contreras is in the final stages of completing an album funded by NALAC and The FORD FOUNDATION through the Border Narrative Change grant.