Creative voices from the field
Class Descriptions
2026 Classes
Poetry As The Means We Need-Alejandro Jimenez
Our words, our stories; and the way we tell those stories, can lead to transformational change – collective and/or individually. It can also lead to a sense of power, a sense of belonging, and being enough, and that who we are, where we come from are not things that should confine us but rather can propel us forward. That is the intent of this class: to explore, examine, and elevate the power of our story through poetry.
Folklorico Dance – Luna Garcia & Federico Olivas
Learn traditional Mexican folkloric dance in this class with Luna. This dance is high energy with lots of movement and footwork! Folklorico is a combination of Mexican culture and history translated into rhythm and body movement. Dancing as a group, we work on coordination and expression. You’ll learn dances from the Costa Chica Region of the state of Guerrero focused on the style known as Chilenas. To find the beginning of this style you have to go to South America and Chile. The dances were introduced to Guerrero during the California “gold rush” in which Chilean ships stopped in Costa Chica for supplies, allowing the sailors to share their lively dances with locals, who took the dances and made them their own.
Theater Creation – Marisol Rosa-Shapiro
Explore a variety of theatrical means for telling stories. Our emphasis will be on playful exploration that employs the poetic body, voice, and imagination to create brand new, collaborative works of theater. Participants will wear a variety of creative hats, including actor, director, and writer.
Giant Puppets – Margie McDonald
Bring Giants to life with you inside. Students will create large puppets using simple materials such as cardboard, wire, fabric, sticks and tape. You will learn to put cardboard together use a sewing awl and hot glue. The final product can be based on something that exists such as animals or is fabricated from your imagination. The Giants come to life on stage for Friday’s Student Showcase.
Illustrate Your Voice (Drawing & Bookmaking), with Sabrina Chacon-Barajas
Telling our stories is complex and beautiful. We will create a personal narrative that brings our voice and experience to life using 2D and 3D elements of fine arts in an accordion book.
Ceramics with Daniel Casella
Work with your hands in one of the oldest and most practical art forms. Students will be involved in all parts of the process of ceramics art.
FAQ
Parents
The safety and comfort of your children is our highest priority. Meals at Fort Worden State Park are served on campus at the Fort Worden Commons. Students are housed in historic fort buildings renovated as dormitories.
What to Bring & What Not to Bring
Cell phones and electronic devices are not allowed at Centrum Youth Programs. In case of emergency, Centrum’s program manager and staff carry phones and will notify you as soon as possible. You may leave a message for your student at any time with Program Manager Alyssa de Leon (360) 385-3102 x120. You will receive contact information in an email prior to the start of the program.
Please bring these items:
• An extra blanket (it can be cold)
• Warm clothes (including a warm jacket)
• Rain gear • Clothes you can get messy in (paint, etc.)
• Soap & shampoo
• Day Pack
• Water bottle or canteen
• Hat (such as a baseball cap)
• An alarm clock
• Flashlight
• Spiral notebook or journal
• Pens, pencils and erasers
• Clothes you can MOVE in for dance, theater, etc. (not jeans)
OPTIONAL
• Musical instruments
• Camera
• Quarters and soap (To do laundry)
• Healthy snacks (Centrum provides three meals a day, as well as light evening and afternoon snacks. Students are welcome to bring additional snacks, however we strongly discourage sending students to Centrum with large amounts of sugary snacks).
• Linens are provided in the dormitory, including pillows, sheets, blankets and towels, but an extra blanket can come in handy.
• Bathing suit, if you are bashful. You may want to bring a suit for when you take a shower, although there are individual shower stalls for privacy.
Please go through this list carefully, and call if you have any questions. Providing extra care in helping your student prepare for the week will enhance their experience greatly. Thank you for your help!
If you have any more questions about Voices from the Field, please contact Alyssa de Leon at 360-385-3102, x120, or adeleon@centrum (dot) org.
Faculty
Alejandro Jimenez
Faculty
About
ALEJANDRO JIMENEZ is a nationally and internationally recognized poet from Colima, Mexico. He was featured in TIME Magazine as one of 80 Mexican artists shaping contemporary Mexican culture. His work, and story, are the subject of a short documentary for the PBS series, American Masters: In The Making, which highlights emerging cultural icons. He was runner-up at the 2023 World Poetry Slam Championships. His debut poetry collection, There Will Be Days, Brown Boy, is forthcoming from MouthFeel Press. He has been a counselor/student advisor for over a decade. He uses his art, experience as a formerly undocumented immigrant, and farmworker, to inform his counseling approach. He finds very few things to be better than laughing and writing with students. Read MoreAngie Tabor
Faculty
About
Angie Tabor (they/them) is a performing musician, music educator and composer based in Port Townsend, WA. They are known for being highly versatile, performing with jazz ensembles, symphony orchestras, music theater productions, and Top 40 & tribute acts. They can also be heard performing on steelpans with their Caribbean-infused trio, Caribe. As a music educator, they have taught grades K-12 and college. In 2017, they founded the Port Townsend Steel Bands – communty-based beginning and intermediate steel bands devoted to sharing the enchanting sounds of the steelpans with the community while honoring the traditions and history of the instrument. Angie also maintains a studio of private students.
Read MoreDaniel Casella
About
Daniel graduated from Dominican University of San Rafael with a BFA in studio arts. Before joining Watsonville Wetlands Watch, he was a nursery manager and project foreman for Rana Creek Habitat Restoration. When not at WWW he enjoys being a dad and working in his ceramics studio.
Read MoreLuna Garcia
Faculty
About
Luna Garcia started dancing Folklorico at age seven with the dance group Joyas Mestizas. In 2007, she started teaching with Joyas Mestizas, and she started dancing with Bailadores de Bronce. Dancing and teaching with both organizations, she has been able to promote and present the beauty of Folklorico throughout the Seattle area. She has taken classes and workshops with renowned Folklorico teachers such as Jose Tena from New Mexico State University and Samuel Cortez from Los Lupeños, San Jose.
Read MoreMargie McDonald
Faculty
About
Margie McDonald is the artistic director for the Port Townsend Wearable Art Show now heading into its sixth year.
Margie’s work in Wearable art and sculpture has been exhibited in the New Zealand World of Wearable Art Exhibition, Bainbridge Island Art Museum, Museum of Northwest Art, Northwind Arts Center and Simon Mace Gallery.
Marisol Rosa-Shapiro
Faculty
About
Marisol Rosa-Shapiro is a New York and Seattle-based performer, director, teaching artist, and creator of original works of theater. She is a graduate of Princeton University and of Giovanni Fusetti’s Lecoq-based Helikos School of Theatre Creation in Florence, Italy. Her specialties include mask theater, mime, clown, commedia dell’arte, improvisation, physical comedy, movement-and ensemble-based creation and more. Marisol has been a director, assistant director and producer for numerous theatres, art centers and schools throughout the country.
Read MoreSabrina Chacon-Barajas
Faculty
About
Sabrina Chacon-Barajas graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a BA in Studio Art and is currently working on her M.Ed at UW Bothell. Her artwork incorporates multi-media art to represent the intersectional identity of being a woman of color from immigrant parents. Sabrina is a teaching artist that cares about representation in the classroom through the power of the arts. She centers her curriculum around anti-racist teaching practices and critical thinking. Sabrina speaks Spanish and empowers her students to speak and write in their language by being transparent in her experience as a first-generation person who is more comfortable with translanguaging meaning using Spanglish to communicate. Sabrina has taught with various art programs in the PNW such as REEL GRRLS, SAM, Gage Academy of the Arts, South Park Community Center, Ailey Camp, Pratt Fine Arts, and Centrum in Port Townsend. Sabrina has also presented and done workshops for Seattle Public Schools, Highline Public Schools and conferences like ITAC and the Bridge Conference.
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