“More than just a music workshop, it is a community. At first, I didn’t talk to many people, but now I do.”
Mariana Contreras emigrated to Los Angeles at the age of 15. Born in Mexico City, she was deeply rooted in her culture and city.
“I still ask myself about it; it was strange, and even stranger that my parents allowed it. They are two very different cities, two very different cultures,” says Mariana, a graduate student in Nutrition and a participant in the Taller de Tarima y Tambor taught by Cesar ‘Jarochelo’ Castro.
Mariana has always wanted to preserve her culture and has completely refused to alienate herself from the culture in the United States. Perhaps she inherited her father Guillermo’s interests, a rock enthusiast who attended the legendary Avándaro Festival in Mexico and is also a fan of trova music and listening to Radio Educación.
“My dad tells us that he went to Avándaro when he was very young. He really likes the culture,” she says.
“I feel happy to meet so many people with the same interests, the same political stance, and who think similarly,” she says.
Mariana’s search ‘to connect’ led her one day to a post about Tía Chuchas, the popular Cultural Center in Sylmar.
“I saw they were offering a Taller de Tarima y Tambor. I thought, ‘This is what I’m looking for,’ it sounds exciting. There we can connect,” she says. “Maybe this is what I’ve been looking for.”
Her father has recently been living in California with his two daughters. About two years ago, his wife passed away. Guillermo doesn’t have many friends, and Mariana thought taking him to the workshop might be interesting.
“At first, I did it for him. Now we are both excited; we really like it, listening to the jaranas, the zapateados, los tambores, and getting to know other cultures, like the Colombian ones. I decided to play the drum in the first classes. I thought, ‘I can hide here; you can’t hear me with all this noise,'” she laughs. Though somewhat shy, Mariana has a clear, transparent laugh and then confesses, “I realized it wasn’t like that; you can hear me if I mess up.”
Both Guillermo, her father, and Mariana realized that their search for another community, different from the one outside, had paid off.
“I was lost, but now sharing those moments with other people I identify with has changed my life,” she adds.
I ask her why she doesn’t choose to dance. She laughs again and says, “I have crossed feet, I have no coordination.”
Both Guillermo, her father, and Mariana realized that their search for another community, different from the one outside, had paid off.
She is happy to have stepped out of her comfort zone and sought those new experiences.
“More than just a music workshop, it is a community. At first, I didn’t talk to many people, but now I do. And I feel happy to meet so many people with the same interests, the same political stance, and who think similarly,” she says.
Her enthusiasm has been so great that on one occasion, a friend from San Diego visited her and took her to the workshop.
“She was amazed, she loved it. There are no spaces like this in San Diego. She told me, ‘This is amazing,'” she comments.
Given the migratory climate, driving from the Valley at first made her nervous. But she didn’t stop. Now, she is no longer afraid.
“They’ve taken so much from us that the fear goes away. It doesn’t matter anymore,” she says.
She has nothing but praise for César Castro.
“He has so much knowledge, he teaches us so much, and… he’s also really funny. He tells jokes in such a charming way,” she laughs.
Mariana’s attendance at this workshop with her father has helped them spend a great time together.
“These are very beautiful moments, being with him and enjoying them. Without a doubt, this workshop has changed our lives,” she concludes.
