Friday, August 24, 2012

A LETTER FROM ELIANA

Eliana Square Dancing
This is a note from one of our 2012 Youth Scholarship recipients, Eliana Salinas.  Thank you Eliana for such a nice letter!

Swannanoa is a place where people come together.  Whenever and wherever you look there will always be a jam going on.  At Swannanoa there is a strong community that is growing every year.

Nestled in the blue ridge mountains of Swannanoa, NC, Warren-Wilson College is the perfect environment for the gathering.  With all the the tall pines and natural flora, the peaceful environment puts you at home.  The meals are yummy and healthy with meat and veggies from the Warren-Wilson College farm. The Warren-Wilson Farm is about 275 acres.  They have many animals ranging from chickens, cows, pigs, plus a wide range of vegetables.  One tip is that late at night they have the BEST fried okra, hamburgers, and sausages for sale outside by one of the jam tents. 

The hardest part of the gathering is waking up and getting going.  You have to wake up no later than 8:00 every morning to get to breakfast and get ready for class, or earlier if you decide to go to tai-chi at 7:30.  After breakfast you have your first class at 9:00 and your second class at 10:45.  Then you eat a delicious lunch, made by the college students.  After lunch you can attend a guest master artist concert.  Following that is your third class.  After all your classes are over for the day there are potlucks, which are like mini classes or concerts that happen simultaneously so you choose which one to attend.  The night starts with a square-dance and following that are jams that last late into the night.
My time at Swannanoa made me so much more confident in my playing.  I have learned so many new techniques and tunes.  But most of all I have realized how much I love Old Time Music and how grateful I am for the people who I can share that with.

Hope to see you there next year,
Eliana Salinas