(1976) Date TBD  “For Verabelle” –  First performance:  Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre, Washington, DC   (video shot in 1976 rehearsal (1/2 reel to reel transferred to 3/4 Umatic video tape)

“A dance choreographed as a gift to my friend Belle Cluff related to the separation of Toni Cluff and VeraBelle.  This duet places the woman inside her home environment (window, radio, bed springs suspended in space) and her dreams of herself as a sexual attractive woman.  Questioning why her husband was staying out all night with another woman.” (Maida Withers, 1976)  *See written script of choreography by Maida Withers.

(1977) March 25 – 27 – (Only available date)  For Verabelle – Washington Project for the Arts.  Female duet, concerned with the tragic alteration of the loving and devoted husband and wife, family of four children.

Photo contact sheet  (duet, with window frame)

Maida Withers Notes:
“A female duet created in recognition of the separation and eventual divorce of two dear friends, parents of children, good friends of my children. The duet places the woman inside her home environment with a window, radio, and bed springs suspended in the space. The work has the lead solo figure, Ellen Lang (GWU undergraduate dancer), in a dream world of herself as a sexually attractive woman questioning why her husband was staying out all night with another woman.   Downstage, Jean Isaacs, dances as the imagined “dream self” – outside of the confines of home and marriage.  Ellen was more human in her movements like wringing her hands and pacing the floor back and forth, small gestures or nervousness while Jean was exaggerated in her sexual behavior and emotional expression.  The  window on stage changes from day light to night light  marking, in time, the waiting and worrying, finding distractions, by the betrayed wire, four feet from the floor;  radio on stage.” Maida Withers

Set on stage:  Hanging window frame; One single bed (bed springs, only, suspended by wire; a real live radio that was turned on and off. A police radio with random responses.

Repertory:  For Verabelle, was performed by Three’s Company, San Diego, California.  Jean Isaacs is an associate of Three’s Company and was a faculty member at George Washington University when For Verabelle was created.

Jean Isaac, dancer for Verabelle, was the subject for the drawing by John Bailey, Founding Member of MWDCCo and visual artist. (1974)