2002 – February 22  Going Beyond, an Odyssey, an evening-length performance, a commissioned work by the Corcoran Gallery of Art for theie distinguished Gala Benefit, Going Beyond, an Odyssey, an evening length site performance February 22, 2002 for over 900 guests throughout the entire historic building across the street from the White House. This commission was from the distinguished Corcoran Gallery of Art Board of Directors.  This was event occurred several years prior to the Corcoran Board of Directors sale of the historic Flagg Building to the George Washington University.

MWDCCo archives – Hi-8 video available in MWDCCo archive.

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 for dancers performing on white tables carrying raised white umbrellas.

Dance in the Museum was not uncommon for Dance Construction Company.  We had been engaged 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, Ohio.

The evening was a fresh new encounter for the large attending audience.  Musicians  and dancers improvised throughout the space, often engaging with individual members of the party.   Dena Hawes, visual artist,  performed an amazing work – a large installation of a turtle balancing on its shell with the dancer  helplessly attached to the  shell with outstretched arms and legs that the audience could hold and spin the performer balanced, body outstretched, on the turtle shell. It was a grand party/celebration.

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