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NGI Recipient: Jacob Henderson

Session Attended: Folk Arts Center of New England - FAC Folk Days (2013)

I have spent the last four and a half years doing international folk dancing, and some years before that I started Morris dancing. I first learned about Pinewoods from some friends who had been going for their entire lives. They were also the people who first introduced me to international dancing.

This was my third time attending the FAC week at Pinewoods, and it was the best yet. I would say that this is because there was so much energy this year, from the teachers, as well as the band. There was such great music and dancing. I especially enjoyed learning dances from the Caucasus, they were a lot of fun, and I would hope to see Tineke and Maurits van Geel back again.

And of course, you can never go wrong with the amazing Pinewoods band, led by Mr. Tom Pixton himself — there is always so much energy in their music. There is just nothing like doing the Lesnoto at the end of the week — there are so many emotions, seeing friends and family, and just getting lost in the music.

Lastly, I must thank Pinewoods and FAC, from the bottom of my heart, for the opportunity to come to this fantastic camp, which I could not have done without the help of the NGI scholarship. I hope that I will be able to keep returning to Pinewoods for as long as I can keep dancing.