Video, Kennedy Center Archives:  http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/videos/?id=M6136&type=A

December 8, 2014 – Chain of Events …sheer imaginative fallout of movement
Presented by Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Date/Time:  December 8, 2014 at 6:00 to 6:50  pm, FREE
Location: Kennedy Center Theatre Lab; 2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC
Tickets:  FREE
Contact: Jane Rabinovitz; JKRabinovitz@Kennedy-Center.org; 202-416-8044
Billy Andrews; dcc@maidadance.com; 202-994-0739

Maida Withers Dance Construction Company, “iconoclast of Washington Dance,” presents Chain of Events for their 40^th anniversary celebration performance at the Kennedy Center Theatre Lab. Chain of Events offers a rare opportunity to experience a collection of selected excerpts from Wither’s “thought provoking” choreography in the past (Stall and Time Dance), present (Collision Course – a.k.a. Pillow Talk) and future (MindFluctuations). Live electronic music is by Steve Hilmy and John Driscoll with light design by Enoch Chan. Selected dance segments are presented as a continuous uninterrupted stream of dance movement stripped down to the stark and beautiful choreography performed by members of Maida Withers Dance Construction Company

Monday, December 8, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsDAVID M. RUBENSTEIN, Chairman
DEBORAH F. RUTTER, President
presents
Maida Withers Dance Construction Company
Performing
Chain of Events
Choreography by Maida Withers
Music Composed and Performed by John Driscoll and Steve Hilmy
Performed by Felicia Avalos, Ian Ceccarelli, Alicia Diaz, Anthony Gongora, Shannon Elizabeth O’Brien, Giselle Ruzany, Mary Heath, Sammi Rosenfeld, Angela Schöpke, and Matthew Thornton
Lighting Design by Enoch Chan

About the Company:
In 2014-15 Maida Withers Dance Construction Company celebrates its 40^th anniversary. The Company is known for its evening-length works, performance events for stage, museums, and site-specific locations, dance films, and continuously generating choreography that speaks to current social, political, and artistic issues.  Collaboration and innovation are two important hallmarks of the Company. The Company has a history of experimentation that has brought recognition to the Company in what became known as the revolution of dance from modern to post-modern dance. Music is created for all the works and always performed live. The company tours annually and has toured to more than 18 countries. Maida and the Company have received awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, D.C. Commission on the Arts, Virginia Commission on the Arts, Ford Foundation in Russia, the U.S. Department of State, many U.S. Embassies abroad, Lincoln Center (NYC), International Celebration Art, GoDown Art Center in Nairobi, Africa, and many other local foundations and individuals.

About the Work:
Excerpts from Time Dance (1974), Collision Course – a.k.a. Pillow Talk (2012), Stall (1981), and MindFluctuations (March 2015) are presented in a continuous stream of dance choreography without pausing or without inclusion of visual elements or other theatrical embellishment present in the original works.

About the Artists:
Maida Withers (Founder, Artistic Director, and Choreographer) has created a significant and distinctive body of original choreography – over 100 dances of breadth and vision for Maida Withers Dance Construction Company that involves a process of experimentation, innovation and collaboration. Her works reveal an ongoing interest in social and political issues and in juxtaposing dance and technology and interactive media. She has created dance works featuring rotating loudspeakers, laser beams, wireless cameras, and video installations – always with original music performed live. She tours annually internationally. Her dance films have been selected for showing in festivals in France, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, and in various festivals in D.C. and the USA. In 2014, she and the Dance Construction Company celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the founding of the Company. Visit http://www.maidadance.com to view the recent publication of the Company ARCHIVES and an astonishing TIMELINE. Maida is a Professor at George Washington University, Department of Theatre and Dance. Maida received a “Special Recognition” Award at the D.C. 29^th Mayor’s Awards Ceremony, October 29, 2014.

Felicia Avalos (Dancer) is from Huntsville, Texas where she received her BFA in Dance from Sam Houston State University.  Her last semester, she completed the Dance Abroad Argentina program where she began her tango training.  After returning to the states, Felicia moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked with Sharna Fabiano Tango Company, Mich Mash Productions, and Taurus Broadhurst Dance Company. In  northern Israel she trained with the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company for ten months.  Felicia is currently attending the MFA Dance program at The George Washington University, where she was awarded a University Fellowship.  Along with dancing in Maida Withers Dance Construction Company, she dances with Maru Montero Dance Company.

 Ian Ceccarelli (Dancer, Understudy) born in New York City, Ian began his study of dance at the Kennet School of Dance and Gymnastics in Goshen, NY where he danced in numerous recitals and yearly productions of The Nutcracker. Ian has studied with Mary Rotella as a part of The Masters School Dance Company, Ronnie Carney with New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Diane Madden of the Trisha Brown Dance Company. Currently, he is in his Senior Year at George Washington University. He has performed in Maida’s works Veiled Threat and Yesterday’s Garlands and Yesterday’s Kisses. He has choreographed for the George Washington University’s Spring 2014 production of Danceworks.

 Enoch Chan (Lighting Design) graduated from Boston University where he received a BFA in theatre and a BA in art history. Enoch has served as Lighting Designer for various performance companies in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas including Classika, ClancyWorks, BosmaDance, baredances, and Baltimore Theatre Project and been a Lighting Director and Gaffer for video and film.  He won the Metro D.C. Dance Award for Excellence in Lighting Design in 2006, and was also nominated in 2007 and 2010. His photographs have been published in The Washington Post, Dance Teacher, Pointe, and Dance Magazine.  As owner and Artistic Director of DEVIATED THEATRE along with Co-Director Kimmie Dobbs Chan, Enoch writes modern fairytales and pioneers new “operas of movement,” interweaving acting, singing, dancing, and circus skills. Websites: www.deviatedtheatre.org and http://www.enochchanphotography.com

Alicia Diaz (Dancer) Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Díaz is Assistant Professor of Dance at The University of Richmond and co-director of Agua Dulce Dance Theater (ADDT) with movement artist Matthew Thornton. She is also an MFA candidate at The George Washington University where she was awarded a University Fellowship.  She has danced professionally with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Donald Byrd/The Group, Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theater, Andanza: Compañía Puertorriqueña de Danza Contemporánea, Alice Farley Dance Theater, and Contemporary Motions, as well as numerous independent choreographers. Her choreography has been presented in the United States, Latin America, and Spain.  Recently, she has collaborated with choreographer Steven Iannacone and with Thayer Jonutz and Catch Me Dance Project in multi-media and site-specific projects.

 John Driscoll (Composer/Musician) is a founding member of Composers Inside Electronics (CIE) and has collaborated on and managed David Tudor’s Rainforest IV project since its inception in 1973. Driscoll was musical director for Maida Withers Dance Construction Co. from 1974 – 1980, and has received dance commissions for his music including: the Merce Cunningham Dance Co., Douglas Dunn & Dancers, and Maida Withers Dance Construction Company.  He has toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe with: CIE, Douglas Dunn & Dancers, David Tudor, numerous composers, and also as a solo performer. His work involves custom built electronics, robotic instruments, compositions, and sound installations for unique architectural spaces, rotating loudspeakers, and music for dance. He is currently an artist-in-residence at Harvestworks (NYC) creating a new performance work “Voices in My Head” using highly focused sound for presentation in summer/fall 2014. He was David Tudor composer-in-residence at Mills College in October 2014.  Website: http://composers-inside-electronics.net/jdriscoll/home/BIO.html

Anthony Gongora (Dancer, Filmmaker, Visual Artist) is an interdisciplinary artist who is compelled by driving curiosity and imagination to create. His ongoing quest to fully explore and understand life has been expressed through his fingertips on computer keyboards, canvasses, and clay, and also through the soles of his feet dancing on stages that traverse the globe. Gongora is a choreographer, performer, visual artist, and educator, currently teaching at The University of the District of Columbia as an Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Art in the school of Mass Media Visual & Performing Arts and also at the George Washington University Department of Theatre and Dance. He has received several awards for his choreography, which has been performed in venues such as Joyce SoHo, NYC; Dance Center of Columbia College, Chicago; St. Mark’s Church, Danspace Project, NYC and The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.  Performance experience dancing includes Troika Ranch (NYC), Mordine & Company Dance Theatre (Chicago), Jan Erkert & Dancers (Urbana) and Bob Eisen Dance (Chicago).

Mary Heath (Dancer, Understudy) is an undergraduate student at George Washington University double majoring in Dance and Communications.  She studied at Scottsdale School of Ballet for 10 years before moving to D.C.  Her choreography has been performed by the Desert Dance Company (Scottsdale, AZ) and by peers at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School’s summer intensive.

 Steve Hilmy (Composer/Musician) born in Aberdeen, Scotland, Steve received his Bachelor of Arts, 1984, from George Washington University, and his Master’s of Music in Composition, 1991, from The Peabody Conservatory of Music of The John Hopkins University. He studied composition with William Albright at the University of Michigan and with Jean Eichelberger Ivey and Chen Yi at the Peabody Conservatory. Hilmy has been on the faculty of George Washington University Music Department since 1992, where he is Director of the Electronic and Computer Music Studio. He has won awards from such organizations as the Southeastern Composers League, ASCAP, BMI, the Peabody Conservatory, and The Virginia Center for Creative Arts, including First Prize in the Philip Slates Memorial Composition Contest for “Icarus Falling” (piano and electronics, 1989); the Gustav Klemm Prize for Composition from the Peabody Conservatory in 1991; and 2nd place prize in the Prix d’été II composition competition at the Peabody Conservatory for “Us” (tenor saxophone and electronics, 1999).  Hilmy has worked with Maida Withers Dance Construction Company for more than nine years, improvising in events and creating music for evening length multimedia dance works and dance film shorts, and touring in Russia, Kenya, Mexico, Croatia, and India.

Shannon Elizabeth O’Brien (Dancer) graduated from George Washington University, 2014, with a B.A. in Dance and Speech-Language Pathology. She is passionate about the intersection of dance and disabilities. During her time at GW, she participated in a dance exchange with the Universidad de Chile, apprenticed for Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, studied dance in Italy at the Academia dell’ Arte, and choreographed an honors thesis investigating the impact of physical limitations on creativity. She currently works in the speech therapy department of a special education school, developing alternative means of communication for students who can’t speak. She recently moved to NYC and is working for Heidi Latsky Dance

Giselle Ruzany (Dancer) was born in New York City and grew up in Rio de Janeiro until age 23 before returning to the U.S.  She has been immersed in art and culture from a young age in Europe and Brazil.  Art and Dance have been part of her life receiving performance and choreographic awards at the early age of 12 as well as terra-cotta sculpture prizes by age 18.  She has been dancing professionally since 1987 and teaching dance from an authentic model, on and off, since 1990.  She has worked with Maida since 1995. With Maida Wither’s Dance Construction Company, she has performed in Paris, New York, Seattle, and Brazil. Giselle is presently an adjunct professor in dance.  She is also a licensed professional counselor with a private practice in Woodley Park where she works from an embodied base, treating trauma, depression, anxiety, and other psychological and somatic symptoms: www.gestaltdance.com.  Giselle is a GWU alumni and a MA graduate from Naropa University with a post graduate degree in Gestalt Therapy and a certificate in EMDR.

Sammi Rosenfeld (Dancer) returned to her hometown of Washington, D.C. after completing a BFA in Dance with a minor in Kinesiology at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Rosenfeld has choreographed and produced the evening-length shows Shades (2012) and Nicking the Outside Edge (2013) and has had her work, All Views Are Partial (2013), toured around eastern Michigan. She recently was an apprentice for Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Co. (2013-2014). She currently teaches creative movement to children of varying ages and developmental abilities. Rosenfeld is a Rehabilitation Service Specialist at a Virginia based psychiatric center. She joined Maida Withers Dance Construction Company in March of 2014.

Angela Schöpke (Dancer) received her BA in Dance and International Affairs at George Washington University in 2014. In Washington, D.C. she has performed with Susan Rethorst and Nancy Havlik Dance Performance Group. She recently choreographed and produced an evening-length performance, CableTable (2013). Under the mentorship of Maida Withers, Angela received two research fellowships from GWU to investigate the role and value of dance in conflict resolution in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan.

Matthew Thornton (Dancer) is a movement artist that combines dance, theater, somatic practice, martial arts, and partnering for training, performance, and choreography. Thornton performed internationally with Pilobolus Dance Theater in concert dance, commercial work, and at the 79th Academy Awards. He has worked as a performer and teacher for Pilobolus since 2003.  Previous dance companies include Jody Oberfelder, Freespace Dance, Alice Farley Dance Theater, and Contemporary Motions.  Matthew Thornton taught at Hope College and joined The University of Richmond’s faculty as Assistant Professor of Dance in Fall 2011 where he currently teaches Capoeira, Contact Improvisation, Outdoor Training, and sets choreography for University Dancers and UR Theatre Productions. Thornton co-founded Agua Dulce Dance Theater with dancer, choreographer and UR dance faculty Alicia Díaz, creating work for concert dance, outdoor environments, multi-media, and site-specific projects.

Upcoming Performances:

WORLD PREMIERE
MindFluctuations
March 19, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Lisner Auditorium
730 21^st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052
Collaborators: Maida Withers, choreographer; Tania Fraga, computer artist / 3-D animation; (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Steve Hilmy and John Driscoll, electronic musicians and composers, Maida Withers Dance Construction Company.
http://lisner.gwu.edu/

For more information:

Maida Withers Dance Construction Company
dcco@maidadance.com
202-994-0739
http://www.maidadance.com
www.facebook.com/MaidaDance
@MWDCCo