Note:  Film Short – site specific project not part of Collision Course a.k.a Pillow Talk choreography for evening length stage work.  But it was part of the PILLOW CYCLE of dances.   Maida was invited to present a “site work” for the Dance USA Annual Conference.  Maida used this as a motivation to work with the Swedish Embassy to make a dance film short and also perform at the conference.

2011 – Film Short (7:24) This intriguing film features three estranged characters, Nate Bond, Anthony Gongora, Giselle Ruzany, body parts wrapped in large white bed pillows secured to body parts with packaging tape. These became body appendages – an armor of protection, a shield, an obstacle to overcome. Performers created an environment with associated memories, dreams, and nightmares – an odd yet delightful spectacle. This is real but more, it is surreal, at once bold and delicate, loving, diving and daring. Pillows thrown, relationships aught! What dreams of love do nightmares have? The performance site performance for Dance USA was 45 minutes in length and commissioned by Dance USA.

This short film, edited and designed by Anthony Gongora, was shot outdoors at the Embassy of Sweden (Swedish House) situated near the Potomac River in Georgetown, Washington, DC. Maida directed the development of the choreography for the large lawn (hill) down to the Potomac River, a sidewalk for pedestrians and bicyclists going to and from Georgetown.  A three-camera shoot by Catherine Featherstone, Ayo Okunseinde, Maida Withers,  documented the site-specific performance at the Dance USA 20th Annual Conference and a site rehearsal to create the sequence and movement for the film short, Collision Course – Film Short (7:24).

This film premiered at Artisphere Dome Theater for the presentation DANCE:FILMS October 21, 2011, Arlington, VA. The film was also shown at the Danzlenz, Habitat Center, New Delhi, India for Withers, on tour,  showing of her dance films in New Delhi, February 2012. Maida was invited to perform a site work for the The project was conceived by Maida Withers and produced by Maida Withers with the Dance Construction Company.

Film production crew…..

Dance USA conference / reception.

Anthony Gongora

Gisella Ruzany, Anthony Gongora, Nate Bond
Dance Construction Company rehearsing film choreography

Maida Withers Dance Construction Company
Dance USA annual conference
Opening reception at the House of Sweden
Washington DC
June 16, 2010