Fifth “Rosa Abdala Gómez” Contest Invites Writers to Share Their Danzón Stories

Crónicas Danzoneras II celebrates the memories, experiences, and human stories that keep danzón alive across generations.

Danzón is more than music and dance. For countless people, it is also a collection of memories: the first time they heard an orchestra play, the person who taught them their first steps, evenings spent dancing in a plaza, friendships formed around the salon, and family traditions carried from one generation to another. Now, a special literary initiative associated with the X Festival Nacional de Danzón Tijuana 2026 is inviting those stories to become part of the written history of danzón.

Within the framework of the festival, Danzoneros de Tijuana A.C., Taza Tintero, Alquimia Café y Letras, and the Centro Nacional de Investigación y Difusión del Danzón A.C. have announced the Fifth “Rosa Abdala Gómez” Contest — Crónicas Danzoneras II. The call is open to adults who wish to transform their experiences with danzón—or the experiences of another person—into a literary chronicle.

Telling the Personal Story of Danzón

The central idea behind the contest is especially meaningful because it approaches danzón through lived experience. Participants may write about how they first discovered danzón, when they learned to dance it, a particularly memorable experience connected with the tradition, or the way danzón eventually became part of their lives. A chronicle may also narrate the experience of a third person, allowing writers to preserve the memories of dancers, musicians, relatives, teachers, or other members of the danzón community.

Each submission must be the original work of the participant and may not exceed three pages. The contest therefore encourages writers to concentrate on a significant moment or story while combining personal memory with literary expression. Entries will be evaluated by a jury of experts according to their literary qualities, including both technical and aesthetic considerations.

How to Submit a Chronicle

Participants must submit their work by email in two separate files. The first should contain the literary chronicle in a Word document using Arial 12-point type and 1.5 line spacing; the title should appear with a pseudonym rather than the author's real name. The second file should identify the author and include the participant's name, place of residence, a brief biographical profile, and contact information.

Entries should be sent to moncadda@gmail.com. The email must be identified with “CRÓNICAS DANZONERAS” together with the participant's pseudonym. The organizers also indicate that authors should consider their submissions grammatically reviewed before sending them.

From Personal Memory to Published History

One of the most significant aspects of the initiative is that selected chronicles will not simply be recognized during the competition—they will be published by Taza Tintero. The names of selected authors will also be announced through the Facebook page of Danzoneros de Tijuana A.C., and those chosen will be contacted directly through the information supplied with their entries.

The editorial presentation is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2026, in the Vestíbulo del Cubo at the Centro Cultural Tijuana. At that presentation, each selected author will receive a copy of the book containing their work. Importantly, the contest rules state that the rights to submitted works remain with their authors.

An Opportunity to Preserve Danzón Through Words

Music and dance traditions survive not only through performances but through the stories people tell about them. A remembered danzón evening, the elegance of a favorite dance partner, the sound of an orchestra, or the story of someone who devoted decades to the tradition can reveal dimensions of cultural history that formal documents sometimes cannot capture. Crónicas Danzoneras II creates an opportunity for those individual memories to become part of a larger collective record.

The call for entries remains open until 24:00 hours on the 10th of September. For questions concerning circumstances not covered in the published rules, participants may contact the organizers at moncadda@gmail.com.

Through initiatives such as the Fifth “Rosa Abdala Gómez” Contest, the X Festival Nacional de Danzón Tijuana 2026 demonstrates that preserving danzón means preserving not only its music and dance steps, but also the voices of the people who have lived it.

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Dancing to the Cuban danzas of Ignacio Cervantes

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