2012 – Veiled Threat is the name given to Part III of Families are Forever, a four part work in MWDCCo archive collection.  Veiled Threat reveals the delicacy of the relationships in families. The familiarity of family members gives the members power based on the intimate knowledge they have about each other.  A dancer makes a threatening gesture when touching another dancer and then removes that violence and turns it into love or compassion. No movement is repeated in Part III, Veiled Threat. The genealogy of Woodruff Rust and that of Isabelle Martina Luke, Maida Withers parents, is the source for the audio/sound score.  The statements revealed are from historical & family records.  The male genealogy is spoken in strong clear tones while the female genealogy is whispered, subdued.  Each name is given as follows:  (a) birth date and location of birthplace; (b) one significant incident that occurred in his or her life, and (c) the circumstances of the persons death.  The original Families Are Forever was presented by the the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Division of Performing Arts, National Museum of American Art on May 27, 28, 29, 1983 on Memorial Day Weekend when Americans celebrate the lives of those who have passed away.  This work toured to Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City.  Live music was performed by Regelio Maxwell.

The GW performance video is included above along with a rehearsal video of the original “Veiled Threat.” The original performance video was difficult for reconstruction due to the low lighting of the original dance performance due to projected slides.  Veiled Threat is a favorite of Maida Withers, choreographer.

“Veiled Threat” was reconstructed on 2 men and 2 women, GW dancers, for performance on April 26, 2012 as part of the GW University Spring Dance Concert in Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre. https://vimeo.com/35583218

Note:  The original creation of “Families Are Forever,” was funded by National Endowment for the Arts, Choreographers Fellowship.

What the press is saying

Zachary Krammer, GW Hatchet