(1992 ) Messenger Eagle is primarily a male solo in Dance for the Earth, an evening of dances celebrating the Earth,  that pays homage to the important American symbol, the eagle.   In America, and especially with Native Americans, and other cultures as well, the Eagle is admired and held in great reverence.  When working on the red earth sites in the Southwestern United States it was always a glorious moment when an Eagle soared above with its great power, strength, and beauty.

Maida became familiar with the Eagle when she was a young child living in Kanab, Utah. The red earth buttes surrounding Kanab, were a convenient and enticing place for Eagles to safely view the world below.

“For the performance, Messenger Eagle, the Eagle is revered as a messenger to and from the Gods.  If you are in communication with the Eagle you might receive a message from the Gods or, perhaps, send a message to the Gods.” Maida Withers

  Dana Tai Soon Burgess
Messenger Eagle premiered at Thomas Jefferson stage in Arlington, Virginia, February 7 and 8, 1992, as a central part of the evening-length program, Dance for the Earth created by Maida with the Dance Construction Company. Messenger Eagle was part of MWDCCo performance in Brasilia, Brazil and Rio de Janeiro for the United Nation’s Earth Summit, Eco ’92. Messenger Eagle continues into Rolling Thunder.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess represented the Eagle, a central character in the large group finale, choreography with dancers wearing, manipulating, pounding when performing with beautiful silver (aluminum) tubes.  The silver tubes were discovered (stored) in the attic of the home of artist, Hilda Thorpe, the place for keeping Hilda Thorpe’s objects of art.  Hilda was anxious for us to look through her collection and was anxious for us to select items to use in performance.  Many artists at that time were using building materials related to architecture and function in a building to create art.

The aluminum tubes were exceptional objects, instrument, partners for the work titled Rolling Thunder. Tubes, silver colored aluminum, were not only beautiful objects on stage, but had various characteristics and potentials as partners with dancers:  dancers put their heads into the tube, sang and made sounds; silver tubes became an eloquent head dress; when tubes were rolled and played (pounded) they created a threatening sound and sound became  thunderous.  Tubes, when played, became the voice of a drum, and in unison, rolling thunder.

Messenger Eagle – Transformation was performed by Maida Withers Dance Construction Company dancers along with Brazilian dancers for the performance in Brasilia, Brazil for the opening in the National Theatre, of OMAME Projeto that was part of the United Nation’s Earth Summit (Eco’92), June 3 to 14, 1992, programming in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In Rio, this stunning performance was on a large elevated stage on La Playa da Flemingo Beach, Rio de Janeiro. It was our understanding that the stage events were sponsored by the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess, “Messenger Eagle” soloist, with Maida Withers Dance Construction Company, dancers and five Brasilian dancers, “Rolling Thunder, la Playa da Flemengo, Rio de Janeiro United Nation’s Earth Summit, June 1992.