(2014) September 20  8:30 pm “Creative Placemaking Initiative Takes Site-Specific Dance into Hyattsville, Maryland.”

TRANS ACTION!   “Art Lives Here OR Not” celebrates Maida Withers and the Dance Construction Company’s pivotal role in the 1970s dance revolution that became known as site-specific work.

TRANS ACTION:  September 20th at 8:30 pm Maida Withers Dance Construction Company joined with Steve Hilmy, electronic musician/composer, and Enoch Chan, lighting designer for Deviated Theatre, for the premiere of Trans Action!

SITE HISTORY:  Gateway Arts District, arts organization, established Art Works Now at the old Marche Florists building, 4800 Rhode Island Ave in Hyattsville, MD.
Withers, a pioneer and innovator of site-specific work in the world of dance, proposed a concept to Art Lives Here partners in January 2014 that engages audiences with the question “does art live here?” and “what does it mean if art lives here?”  The performance, Trans Action, allows the audience to decide if,  or how, the female solo dancer, Giselle Ruzany, survives the onslaught of seven dancers in business suits attempting to dominate and suppress her passion and love of dance.  Withers suggests perhaps  “audiences and artists need to get down and get dirty to help make art happen…a plan to keep art alive in Hyattsville!” “The intimacy of participation by the audience in a site location seems to forever change the artist and the audience view of the space and feeling about art, dance in this case. It can be liberating for all when dance happens in places other than the formal stage.” (Maida Withers)

Art Works Now, Executive Director Barbara Johnson, and Joe’s Movement Emporium Executive, Director Brooke Kidd, were collaborators with the potential for a creative placemaking occurrence. Art Works Now has struggled with the Historic Preservation Commission, Hyattsville, MD, in moving forward with plans for renovation.  MWDCCO saw a perfect opportunity to use dance to transform the space and engage the community with it’s potential. By breaking the boundaries of space, movement, and classic passive role of the audience, Withers intends to change the sense of space and the possible change in purpose for the space.

Article on the history of  Art Lives Here in Mt. Rainier, MD (includes MWDCCo photo)  https://artlivesheremd.wordpress.com/art-lives-here-portraits/years-in-the-making/

Withers presented a free public discussion and film presentation, On Site / Insight  at Joe’s Emporium on September 17, 2014 at 7:30 pm.

The performance and lecture events were part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Maida Withers Dance Construction Company in 1974 in Washington, DC.  These event are made possible by funding from Art Lives Here  via Joe’s Movement Emporium.

Photos by Shaun Schroth

John Moltress                        Giselle Ruzany                    Anthony Gongora

Giselle Ruzany, Ian Caccerelli, Sammi Rosenfeld, Anthony Gongora

Anthony Gongora and Giselle Ruzany

Maida Withers
                       John Moletress, Giselle Ruzany, Anthony Gongora, Sammi Rosenfeld

What the press is saying

Good morning All,

I want to add to what I said last night that you've inspired me to think even more expansively about the space at 4800.

Most personally and profoundly, there's been a real shift in my relationship to the struggle we're in.

It was exquisitely beautiful work.

Thanking everyone whose vision made this possible this morning, especially you Maida.
Barbara
Barbara Johnson Executive Director and Founder Art Works Now