Nuetros Corridos

Idaho Latino Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

The Nuestros Corridos Concert took a life of its own this year with one corrido-writing workshop in the fall at the College of Western Idaho in Nampa and two concerts; one in the fall at the Boise State University Yanke Building and the other at the Hispanic Cultural Center in Nampa. Juan Manuel Barco and Bonifacio Dominguez, accomplished musicians and song writers together with accordionist Andy Gonzalez came to Idaho to lead a group of musicians, Angel Bustos, Damian Rodriguez and Ana Maria Nevarez Schachtell, in a historical journey about the history of the Latinos in Idaho. Monique Duarte professional dancer and choreographer, presented a dance workshop and added folkloric dance to the two concerts. With these three events, the program was able to fulfill its goal of promoting knowledge and understanding about the contributions of the Latino community to the cultural and economic development of the state of Idaho.

The Essential Question that guided our projects’ focus was:

Is it possible to persuade young Latinos to learn about their heritage and history through word, song, and dance?

Touring and conducting workshops has created historical awareness and has called attention to what Dr. Gamboa calls “the one-sidedness of Pacific Northwest history.” The students who sign up for the corrido-writing workshops and the audiences who attend the concerts enjoy the stories being told through film, music, word, and dance becoming aware of the Latino contributions to the economic and cultural development of our state.

At the conclusion of the project, students responded to questions related to the identified Standards:

Several Anchor Standards are met:
#5 – Develop and refine artistic techniques and work presentation – The students worked with the instructors focusing on rhythm, technique, steps and choreography and they were able to present a performance.
#6 – Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work – The students learned the history and content of the songs.
#7 – Performing: They sang along and delivered a wonderful performance full of emotion.
#8 – Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work – The students share with their peers at school about the artistic processes and the final product.

Impact

The modern ballads that the students listen and memorize on the radio, are accompanied with wind instruments what is called “banda.” The corridos that Juan Manuel Barco and Bonifacio Dominguez play and sing are accompanied by the accordion and are definitely more traditional. One of my favorite moments happened when the young students sang their interpretations to the professional musicians and in return the musicians complimented and gave additional tips to the performer.
Focusing on stories that appear in old and new newspapers, magazines and books, make our ballads Historical Corridos. The audience understands and attends willing to learn about the history of the Latinos in Idaho.

Reflection

The Latino population in Idaho has hungered for decades to be recognized as a contributing force on the cultural and economic development of our state. It is important to have public presentations about the history of the Latinos in Idaho to promote the cultural pride and academic performance among Hispanic youth. Projects like this make a tremendous impact in the Latino community, but also in the community at large. This project was not only a learning experience for the youth involved, but also for their parents and the rest of the audience.
Every time we conduct a program, we grow more confident; however, we are constantly creating change and adapting to the facilities available to us for workshops and concerts. My recommendation for others is to begin planning early, put your best effort forward, but don’t expect perfection.