(1992 ) Messenger Eagle is primarily a male solo in Dance for the Earth that pays homage to the American symbol, the eagle.   In America, and especially with Native Americans, and other cultures as well, the Eagle is admired and held in great reverence.  When working on the red earth sites in the Southwestern United States it was always a glorious moment when the Eagle soared above with its great power, strength, and beauty.

Maida became familiar with the Eagle when she was a very young child living in Kanab, Utah. The red earth buttes a convenient resting place to safely view the world below.

“For the performance, Messenger Eagle, the Eagle is revered as a messenger to and from the Gods.  If you are in communication with the Eagle you could receive a message from the Gods or, perhaps, send a message to the Gods.” Maida Withers

Messenger Eagle premiered at Thomas Jefferson in 1992 as a central part of the evening-length program, Dance for the Earth created by Maida with the Dance Construction Company.  Dana Tai Soon Burgess represented the Eagle, a central character in the large group choreography with dancers performing with metal tubes.  The tubes were found in the attic of the home of artist, Hilda Thorpe, and as with all her objects of art, available to use in performance.  In Rolling Thunder, dancers put their heads in and sang and made sounds; they were worn as an eloquent head dress rolled and created a threatening sound,they became  thunders; they became a voice of a drum, and in unison as rolling thunder.  Messenger Eagle – Transformation was also performed by Maida Withers Dance Construction Company with Brazilian dancers as part of the United Nation’s Earth Summit (Eco’92) programming in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.   The performance was on a large elevated stage on the beach sponsored by the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro.

View Dance for the Earth (minute 28:28 to 36:01):

Dana Tai Soon Burgess, “Eagle” soloist, with Maida Withers Dance Construction Company