(1992) DANCE FOR THE EARTH (February 7 and 8): an evening-length program, a collection of “earth consciousness dances,” premiered at Thomas Jefferson Community Theater in Arlington, Virginia, USA.
Sky Cloud: (1992) Metaphoric dance – the wind, the voice of the Earth, collaboration with Hilda Thorpe, noted sculptor, paper maker, painter.   Video above (00:00 to 18:45).
Prologue – Cowboys and Indians Play (1991) Solo – dance and spoken text, Maida Withers solo.  Video above: (19:04 – 28:23).
Messenger Eagle (1992) Sacred icon, male solo, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Video above (29:28 – 36:02).
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 bamboo and rubber), items that cause harm and destruction to planet earth’s oceans and all life.  Video above (36:15 – 41:50).
Still Rush (1991) Immigration passion for self-determination.  Video above (41:51 – 52:49)
Rolling Thunder / “Transformation” (1992) Warning ritual – need for change for survival.  Video above: (01:06:57).

DANCE FOR THE EARTH dances were created specifically to be performed in Brazil as Maida Withers and the Dance Construction Company joined with other international artists through the Omame Projeto as participants before and during the United Nation’s Earth Summit (Eco ’92) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 4-15, 1992.

For more information about Dance Construction Company and the United Nation’s Earth Summit, please visit our web page: https://maidadance/works/united-nations-earth-summit-eco-92/

(1992) DANCE FOR THE EARTH:  May 12, 1992

Messenger Eagle, Spirit Figures, Still Rush, Rolling Thunder/Transformation.  Gala Opening:  Omame Projeto, international artists for ecology**
NATIONAL THEATRE  / BRASILIA, BRAZIL
Maida Withers and the Dance Construction Company and 5 Brazilian dancers

An open call for dancers took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for dancers to join with Maida Withers Dance Construction Company to perform Rolling Thunder / Transformation as part of the cultural offerings during the United Nation’s Earth Summit, Eco ’92.

(1992) (June 13 or 14) Dance for the Earth: Rolling Thunder / Transformation, was an important performance in celebration of the United Nation’s Earth Summit (Eco ’92). Dance Construction Company (4) and Brazilian dancers (5) performed on the large elevated
PLAYA DA FLEMENGO BEACH STAGE, part of many astonishing international artist/events made possible by the Mayor and City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Thousands of patrons joined in a global celebration as the first GLOBAL SUMMIT FOR THE EARTH was coming to a close.

Rolling Thunder / Transformation Photos: Messenger Eagle (Dana Tai Soon Burgess) and Rolling Thunder cast  (below)
Sky Cloud (below) Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Vincent Cacalano

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

United National Earth Summit (Eco 9)
Dance for the Earth (World Premiere)
National Theatre, Brasilia, Brazil
(1991) May, 12@9 PM
Maida  and Dance Construction Company dancers were deeply involved in important OMAME Projeto activities in Brasilia, the capitol city of Brazil, prior to the Eco ’92 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.  Maida left Washington, DC on May 2, 1992 and was joined by four American DCCO dancers on May 5, 1992.  The Company had just 7 days to prepare for a full performance of Dance for the Earth (Rolling Thunder, world premiere), including five dancers from Brasilia, for the OMAME Projeto GALA opening night, May 12, 1992 in the in the historic National Theatre, Brasilia, Brazil.  The OMAME Projeto GALA in the famous National Theatre was sold out to conference delegates and public patrons.  This concert was an important event for dance representation for the UN Earth Summit, Eco ’92.

National Theatre, Brasilia, Brazil, MAY 12, 1992
Maida Withers Dance Dance Construction Company Program

DANCE CONCERT PROGRAM (see Program copy)
Dance for the Earth
*Prologue, (Cowboys and Indians Play) – 1991
Maida Withers solo / Photos by Verabel Cluff
*Ancient Lands – Ancient Peoples – 1990 – Maida Withers Solo
*Earth Spirit Rising: Spirit Path/Migration/Remains – Music by David Hykes & Native American Singers; Photographs by Bruce Hucko; Maida Withers and Dana Tai Soon Burgess – duet
Program note: Prologue and Ancient Peoples are based on exotic and desolate wilderness lands in the Four Corners area of the Southwestern United states, lands occupied for centuries by the Anasazi, ancient peoples of the Americas.  these sacred lands constitute a unique place, a convergence of earth energy and spirit.  Withers has been living and working at Earth sites there since 1987.  “I returned to the land of my birth to rediscover my roots only to find a more ancient nature, my own and that of others.”  Maida Withers

INTERMISSION

Rolling Thunder (World Premiere)
Messenger Eagle, Spirit Figures, Still Rush, Transformation
Concept/Choreography:  Maida Withers; Music: Shaman; Body Painting, Paula Nestarov; Spirit Figure Designs, Marcos Correa; Lighting, William DeMull.
Dancers USA: Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Sandra Kammann, Stacy Palatt, Janine Ploetz; Dancers Brasilia, Brazil: Christina Moura, Marina Nestorov, Mariza Correa, Simon Martins, Regina Mendanco.
Rolling Thunder expresses the new earth myth for the Twenty-first Century.  The gift, the knowledge of the earth, is brought forth symbolically by the Eagle, the Messenger.  All who hear the message change and transform themselves with the Earth.

Community Workshops:
MWDCCo dancers joined with other international dancers and artists to teach classes and workshops in schools in Brasilia working on environment projects through the arts with children and teachers with some public activities/performances with children (June 16) on the  mall near the national buildings of government.

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