(1992)
Dance for the Earth, February 7 & 8, 1992: an evening-length program, a collection of “earth consciousness dances” premiered at Thomas Jefferson Community Theater in Arlington, Virginia, February 7 & 8, 1992:

Sky Cloud: Metaphoric dance – the wind, the voice of the Earth, collaboration with Hilda Thorpe, sculptor, paper maker, painter. (1992) (00:00 to 18:45, video above)
Prologue – Cowboys and Indians Play 1991) Solo – dance and spoken text, Maida Withers (19:04 – 28:23, video above)
Messenger Eagle (1992) Sacred icon, male solo, Dana Tai Soon Burgess (29:28 – 36:02, video above)
Spirit Figures (1992) Each dancer carried a large sculptural figure on a tree limb or bamboo stick with large heads created from discarded items (trash, plastic, old fabric,  junk; Brazil used rubber), items that cause harm and destruction to planet earth’s oceans and all life.  (36:15 – 41:50, video above)
Still Rush (1991) Immigration passion for self-determination (41:51 – 52:49, video above)
Rolling Thunder “Transformation” (1992)
Warning ritual – need for change (01:06:57, video above)

Dance for the Earth (Messenger Eagle, Spirit Figures, Still Rush, Rolling Thunder/Transformation) select dances performed in Brasilia, Brazil, pre- United Nation’s Earth Summit, Eco ’92), National Theatre, Projeto OMAME, Gala Opening, May ?, 1992

Rolling Thunder / Transformation  dance performed by 4 MWDCCo dancers and 5 Brazilian dancers, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – United Nation’s Earth Summit, Eco ’92,  la Playa da Flemengo beach stage, June ??, 1992 (Dance rehearsal at midnight were the convenient and a wonderful time for all in Brazil.)

Dance for the Earth dances (USA premiere) are individually posted:

Sky Cloud

Prologue – Cowboys & Indians Play by Maida Withers

Messenger Eagle (See Dance for the Earth)

Spirit Figures

Rolling Thunder – “Transformation”

An open call for dancers took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for dancers to join with MWDCCo dancers to perform Rolling Thunder – Transformation as part of the cultural offerings during the United Nations Earth Summit, Eco ’92.  Rolling Thunder – Transformation was presented, with 5 Brazil and 4 American dancers, on a La Playa da Flemengo, a large beach stage on in Rio sponsored by the City of Rio de Janeiro.

Rolling Thunder / Transformation  5 Brazilian dancers and 4 MWDCCo American dancers
Performance USA – Messenger Eagle (Dana Tai Soon Burgess) and Rolling Thunder (below)
Sky Cloud (below) Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Vincent Cacalano

Sky Cloud (below) Vincent Cacalano, David Bentley, Stacy Palatt

What the press is saying

In order to choreograph her recent works, Withers spent days/weeks as a "landsite" - a cave, a rock, sand dunes. "I've developed an understanding of a landsite process here I go to the landsite and I work with the people who live there." she explains. Especially I'm interested in the indigenous people that live there and the history and mythology of that earth." Thus, Withers lives and sleeps outdoors, waking at sunrise in her chosen area of study (New Mexico, Utah, Arizona). That say, she explains "the earth is the inspiration; it is also the process, it is also the subject." Kim Friedman