(1980)  May 9  Catching Butterflies and Other Things That Move; Warner Theater, City Dance.

(1979) April 27 and 28 Catching Butterflies and Other Things That Move,  Dorothy Betts Marvin Theater. Phase Tracing II – considered for title based on the Brook Andrews phrase from Phase Tracing (October 30, 1978) but Catching Butterflies developed as a costume idea and may have inspired the change in title).

“Fast paced dance of a recurring movement phrase where dancers interrupt and obstruct the motion of other dancers. The movements used to interrupt and those movements that are interrupted are both manipulated and employed in the structural development of the choreography.”    “The idea is that all movements are equal in value. The dance movement interrupted by someone grabbing an arm and the grabbing gesture, itself, all have equal value as dance and can be danced independent of the function of interruption. The movements required to interrupt and stop a dancer became movements in the choreography even when they did not interrupt a dancer.” (M. Withers)

Creating the Dance:
Catching Butterflies and Other Things That Move  was developed with four MWDCCo dancers: Maida Withers, Brook Andrews, Diane Floyd, Don Zuckerman.  Brook Andrews created a phrase in Phase Tracing (Oct. 30, 1978) that became the basis (bedrock) movement for Catching Butterflies and Other Things That Move.

For Catching Butterflies and Other Things That Move, dancers entered offstage and moved horizontally across and through the space – entering and then exiting.   One dancer would be interrupted by another dancer blocking/stopping/holding and then releasing the movement for the dancer to continue the phrase.   Entering and exiting  into the wings became essential to the choreography.  These interrupted moves, performed without a partner, became Catching Butterflies and Other things that Move.

Costumes:  Eventually, each dancer wore an original costume, each costume hand painted  by John Bailey, one of the founders of MWDCCo.  John was well-known and respected both as a dancer and visual artist. Each costume was unique and painted on each body. Each costume was based, literally, on one specific butterfly with specific color and form for each costume.  The costumes have been photographed and remain in the collection of Maida Withers and the Dance Construction Company.

Photographs by Dennis DeLoria, Washington, DC

Ann McDonald and Brook Andrews / Costumes by John Bailey 

Don Zuckerman; Costume by John Bailey

Ann McDonald and Brook Andrews; Hand Painted Costumes, John Bailey

Don Zuckerman, Maida Withers, Brook Andrews;
Hand Painted Costumes by John Bailey

Don Zuckerman, Brook Andrews, Ann McDonald,  Maida Withers; Hand Painted Costumes by John Bailey

Maida Withers, Don Zuckerman, Diane Floyd

Don Zuckerman, Maida Withers, Diane Floyd


Brook Andrews; Hand Painted Costume by John Bailey


Hand Painted Silk Costumes by John Bailey, dancer and visual artist!