(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.

Each dance listed below has a page, by name, in the digital collection and data collection.

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, spoken text, Maida Withers solo.  Video above: (19:04 – 28:23).
Rolling Thunder 1992) Warning ritual – change for survival. 
Video above: (01:06:57)
Rolling Thunder (Includes the following dances):
Messenger Eagle (1992) Eagle as sacred icon, Dana Tai Soon Burgess
Video above (29:28 – 36:02).
Spirit Figures (1992) Each dancer carries a sculptural figure built on a large tree limb or long 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)
Transformation (1992) Change achieved.

(1992) DANCE FOR THE EARTH:  (May 12, 1992): an evening-length program, a collection of “earth consciousness dance,” performed in Brasilia, Brazil for Projeto OMAME – Dia Da Terra.  (Program from archive file – 8 1/2 by 11 typewritten page by Projeto OMAME, DIA DA TERRA, 12 de maio.

Ancient Lands – Ancient Peoples (1990)
Earth Spirit Rising and Spirit Path / Migration / Remains (1990)
Danced by Maida Wither and Dana Tai Soon Burgess

Intermission
Rolling Thunder (world premiere)
Messenger Eagle
Spirit Figures
Still Rush
Transformation

DCCo Dancers: Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Sandra Kammann, Stacy Palatt, Janine Ploetz
Brasilia Dancers:  Christina Moura, Marina Nestorov, Mariza Correa, Simone Martins, Regina Mendanco

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

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) DANCE FOR THE EARTH: June 13 or 14, 1992
Rolling Thunder / Transformation
Maida Withers and the Dance Construction Company and 5 Brazilian dancers
International & Brazilian CONCERT: PLAYA DA FLEMENGO BEACH STAGE
Sponsored by the City & Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Final event/celebration of the FIRST GLOBAL SUMMIT FOR THE EARTH – ECO ’92

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

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

United National Earth Summit (Eco ’92)
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 Dance / Photos by Verabel Cluff
*Ancient Lands – Ancient Peoples – 1990 – Maida Withers Solo Dance
*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, Dancers
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 –Dana Tai Soon Burgess
Spirit Figures – Dancers, DCCo & Brazil
Still Rush – Dancers,  DCCo & Brazil
Transformation – DCCo & Brazil
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