2002 – February 22  Maida Withers was commissioned to create an event for the Corcoran Gallery of Art Gala Benefit, Going Beyond, an Odyssey, Friday, February 22, 2002 for over 900 guests. This commission was with the original Corcoran Gallery of Art Board of Directors.  This was years before Corcoran Board discontinued the Corcoran Gallery.

Eighteen dancers, men and women, were dressed in turtle-neck long white dresses with slits up each side to the hips.  Dancers from Maida Withers Dance Construction Company and guest performers along with Membrane Ensemble roamed and performed throughout the gallery for the entire Gala event. We were not restricted to dancing in any of the spaces in the large Corcoran building (North and South Atriums, 2nd Floor Galleries, all spaces were available for our performance.  The rooms were displaying exhibitions.  We were not restricted to any exhibition spaces or stairs or elevators, entrances.
MWDCCo dancer’s hair was frosted in silver and dancers wore long white arm bands and extreme makeup to create a “vogue-ish” atmosphere.  Tish Carter had been invited by Withers to join in making part of the work.  Carter created a scene of dancers on white tables with raised white umbrellas.
Dance in the Museum was not uncommon for Dance Construction Company.  We had been engaging in such endeavors since first performing in Ohio with John Driscoll in 1974 at the invitation of  Columbus Gallery of Art – Gala opening of the new contemporary wing, Columbus, OH.

What the press is saying

"White-clad members of the Membrane Ensemble and Maida Withers Dancers twisted and turned during a sound and light phantasmagoria at the Corcoran Gallery of Art Friday night." Chistian Toto, Washington Times