Rehearsal Marvin Center Theatre for performance at Warner Theatre
May 9, 1980

Rehearsal – Building K Studio Theatre for performance in 4/27/1979; https://vimeo.com/90679290/

(1979)Catching Butterflies and Other Things That Move

Don Zuckerman

Photos for Catching Butterflies by Dennis DeLoria, Washington, DC

“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)  See history below.Brook Andrews and Ann McDonald

John Bailey, noted visual artist and one of the founders of Maida Withers Dance Construction Company, hand painted each unique “butterfly” costume (accessible in Company archives).  Each costume was based on an actual butterfly.  John Bailey is known widely for his Marilyn Monroe  painting on the hair salon building on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, DC. (see Marilyn Monroe  painting below).

Don Zuckerman, Maida Withers, Brook Andrews

Maida…  “I loved the Butterflies work….Clean and clear movements.  Very much enjoyed being “interrupted and interrupting others,” quickly and quietly with ease and dignity! Costumes are in the DCCo collection.” (6/7/2025)

Television PSA states: (https://vimeo.com/9067928)
Maida Withers presents CONCERT OF DANCE featuring the Dance Construction Company;  February 28 & March 1 at 8:00 pm and March 2 at 5:00 and 8:00 pm, 1979.  Studio Theatre, Building K at GWU, 817 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC featuring Maida Withers Dance Construction Company (Brook Andrews, Diane Floyd, Kay Hartman, Anne McDonald, Maida Withers and Don Zuckerman
Brook Andrews1980 –

Alan M. Kreigsman, Washington, Post:  City Dance ’80 presents MWDCCo in the Warner Theatre  sponsored by Washington Performing Arts Society, May 9, 1980 at 8:00 pm. Liz Lerman was the Artistic Advisor for City Dance.  Warner Theatre cast included Brook Andrews, Kathryn Hartman, Anne McDonald, Vincent Wineglass (future dancer with Ailey and Cunningham), Maida Withers, Don Zuckerman.

Don Zuckerman, Brook Andrews, Ann McDonald, Maida WithersAnn McDonald and Brook Andrews

John Bailey, founding member of MWDCCo and artist for hand-painted costumes for  Catching Butterflies and Other Things That Moves. John, a visual artist, is widely  known for the mural, located at 2602 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington D.C.  The portrait depicts pop culture icon Marilyn Monroe on the upper outside wall of Salon Roi.^[1] It was created in 1981 by artist John Bailey. It was commissioned by Charles Stinson for Salon Roi’s owner, Roi Barnard’s 40th birthday.^[2]

Marilyn Monroe Mural by John Bailey, dancer and visual artist.

In 2001, the Woodley Park Neighborhood Association donated funds and brought Bailey back to Washington, DC to restore the mural to its original vibrancy, as it had faded greatly.^[3] New lights, donated by Starwood Urban, were installed to illuminate the mural at night. The Chipotle Mexican Grill on the corner of Connecticut Ave. and Calvert St., located below the mural, pays for the ongoing electrical costs for the lighting.^[3]
The mural has gained widespread fame as a Washington D.C landmark. It is a stop on the Old Towne Trolley tourist bus, and is consistently reproduced in paintings, T-shirts, calendars and postcards.^[4] It was voted as the first runner-up in the Washington City Paper‘s Reader’s Poll: Best Mural of D.C 2014.^[5]

Butterflies dance History: Catching Butterflies and Other Things That Move, was originally based on a phrase composed by Brook Andrews for a previous work, Phase Tracing II, developed in 1979-80 with four MWDCCo dancers.  The phrase in Phase Tracing became the “bedrock” material for Catching Butterflies and Other Things That Move.  For Butterflies, dancers moving horizontally across and through the space were embellished to be interrupted by another dancer blocking and then releasing the movement for the dancer to continue.  Entering and exiting became essential to the choreography.  These moves became the dance, Catching Butterflies and Other things that Move, where dancers wore original costumes each hand painted  by John Bailey, dancer and visual artist, based on one unique butterfly for each costume. Maida Withers, Don Zuckerman, Diane Floyd

Diane Floyd, Don Zuckerman, Maida Withers
Don Zuckerman, Maida Withers, Diane Floyd

What the press is saying

D.C. Dance Fever "After a jubilant kickoff celebration last Saturday afternoon, City Dance '80 continues its celebration with three nights of performances at Washington's Warner Theatre. Ten companies plus a world premiere will be featured in the three consecutive concerts, beginning tonight, Thursday, May 8, 1980 at 8:00 pm." Carolyn Kelemen

The Washington Performing Arts Society will present ten resident dance companies plus a world premiere for City Dance'80 during the festival which continues Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm." Arlington-Alexandria Calendar