NGI Recipient: Leah Sakala
Session Attended: Country Dance and Song Society - English Dance Week (2006)
Being a Pinewoods camper during English week was a fantastic experience. Not only did I learn lots of new dance styles and techniques (such as clogging, jigs, and country dancing), but I also gained a new appreciation for ones that I was already familiar with-I learned several new rapper sword techniques with Peter Kruskal, and Laurel Swift’s mass Cotswold morris dancing gave me a whole new view of morris! All of my instructors were fabulous-they were knowledgeable and kind, but also weren’t afraid to run a dance until it looked really good. The musicians who played for classes and dances were also excellent, both technically and personally. Pinewoods hosted me well: the food was fabulous (I especially appreciated the ever-present vegetarian option), the accommodations were very comfortable, and I enjoyed swimming in one of the two lakes just about every day. I made some fantastic friends during the week, and loved being able to dance, learn, and live with such a great community of people. I’m very grateful to the Country Dance and Song Society and Pinewoods Camp, Inc. for giving me a scholarship to be part of such a great week.