(2010) December 4
Alwin Nikolais Centenniel Alumni Concerts, Hunter College, New York City, New York brought together over 20 alumni artists and choreographers for live performance…. (Nikolais was born November 25, 1910):

“It was an honor to  perform on a 100th year celebration concert paying tribute to the creative genius, Alwin Nikolais – American choreographer, dancer, composer, musician, and teacher.  Nikolais was guest artist / teacher for the University of Utah summer dance workshop in Park City, Utah organized by Joan Woodbury and Shirley Ririe.   It was a privilege for me to participate in Nikolais classes in Park City.  Lucas Hoving, principal with the Nikolais company, was teaching at the University of Utah as well.  Years later, I was invited to teach at the Nikolais School, New York City, during  a Sabbatical Leave from George Washington University.  Deep gratitude to the Nikolais dance family for this important celebration.” Maida Withers

(2010) December 4  FareWell – Tipping Point, part of Withers FareWell series, is a multi-media expression of a drastically changing world – a reality vividly on display in the Arctic and Antarctica with continents of ice rapidly disappearing.  As humans we recognize that our lives have impact. Tipping Point features a dramatic projected visual installation by Ayodamola Tanimowo Okunseinde and music created and performed live by Steve Hilmy, electronic composer/musician. Withers recites poetry by noted poet, David McAleavey, and asks unanswerable  questions to the audience.  Bright lighting in the December 4 performance limited visibility of the projected installation.

FareWell – Tipping Point was choreographed by Withers with dancer, Jadee Mitchell, Washington, DC in 2008 – below:

  https://vimeo.com/6815207

Tipping Point – poems by David McAleavey, noted Washington, DC  poet

Shimmering Fragments
These sheer stripped-down shapes
will not last. The birds roosting
on those rocks won’t last.

the bird soaring in the sky
hunts for what’s missing

These sheer stripped-down shapes,
these cliff-like mountains of ice,
orphans in space-time

Ice cliffs must crumble
icebergs must vanish: you must
change your life.   Of course.

(additional poems – Withers archive)