(1992)  Spirit Figures, a dance that appeared in an evening concert titled Dance for the Earth.  Dances in the evening program were created in commemoration of and select dances performed in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, Brazil during the United Nation’s Earth Summit (Eco ’92), the first such summit.
Unique Physical Figures with heads were designed by Maida, created from discarded items (trash, plastic, old fabric,  junk), items that cause harm and destruction to planet earth’s oceans and all life, everywhere.
In the USA performance, the figures were a combination of a tree limb  and a character built from discarded materials deemed dangerous for the Earth environment in the USA.  The tree limbs were obtained in a storm drain (ravine/river) in Arlington, Virginia leading to the Potomac River and plastic became the predominate material for each figure  (heads on poles) along with cans and bottles. These unique Spirit Figures performed in Arlington, Virginia as part of the evening length grouping under the title, Dance for the Earth. Hilda Thorpe, noted American visual artist who lived in Alexandria, was a major contributor to the work with her beautiful organic homemade paper.

When Spirit Figures dance was recreated in Rio de Janeiro in preparation for participation and performance during the United Nation’s Earth Summit, a Brazilian visual artist created figures like sea creatures from rubber and other available materials that were more appropriate for life, and were discarded in Brazil.  Since there were no trees of any height in Brasilia, where the reconstruction occurred, bamboo (abundant in Brasilia) poles were used instead of tree limbs. Brazilian and American dancers performed together this beautiful and somewhat awkward ritual with their “spirit figure” partners.

Spirit Figures, and Messenger (male, Eagle, solo),  are included as part of the evening-length dance titled Rolling Thunder in the evening-length program, Dance for the Earth.