NGI Recipient: Julian Drumwright
Session Attended: Folk Arts Center of New England - FAC weekend (2021)
The NGI scholarship gave me the opportunity to go to Pinewoods, and have one of the most fascinating and wonderful experiences of my life. I am really new to the [traditional dance and music] community, but everyone was incredibly welcoming, and everyone was happy to help me out whenever I had trouble with the dances. The supportive and community-focused atmosphere at camp was really inspiring.
A lot of the people I met have grown up in the community, and have deep connections with the people there. I didn’t grow up with anything like that, and never felt like I was missing much, but now, having been to Pinewoods, and having met so many folk dancers, I can see the importance of fostering community. This realization has been very meaningful for me, and it’s affecting how I engage with the people around me, inside and outside of folk dancing, in an entirely new way.
I really appreciate this opportunity to experience beautiful Pinewoods, and to become a new member of its amazing community. Thank you!