(2012)  May 5  Involuntary Encounters – Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre, Washington, DC features Maida Withers Dance Construction Company and guest artist choreographers and dancers from NYC, Boston and Japan.  This interactive event of dance, live video feed, film, and electronic music includes improvisations and choreography by dancers, choreographers, and composers who perform.

“Meet virtuosic choreographers who dance – moving in real time and fantasy time, sharing the stage for this one-night stand of unkempt beauty – IMPROVISATION and PERFORMANCE that is raw, re-captured, involuntary.”

Concept and director, Maida Withers.  Collaborators:  Performers/Dancers/Filmmakers:  Nate Bond (DC), Monstah Black (NYC), Wendell Cooper (NYC),  Junichi Fukuda (DC/Japan), Anthony Gongora (DC), Tzveta Kassabvova (DC/Bulgaria), Giselle Ruzany (DC/Brazil), Sarah Slifer (Boston), Maida Withers (DC), Composer/Musician, Steve Hilmy (DC).

Performance documentary:  http://vimeo.com/43986299/
Excerpt:  https://vimeo.com/44001881/ (may be removed – not available)

PROGRAM
Duets Plus+ – Based on duet choreography by Maida Withers for dancers Anthony Gongora, Giselle Ruzany; Tzveta Kassabova, Nate Bond (DCCo) joined by guests, Junichi Fukuda and Sarah Slifer.  Electronic music, performed live, by Steve Hilmy.

Dust to Dust – Blending hindsight / foresight / structure / improvisation (music, voice, dance). Created and performed by NYC Guest Artists, Monstah Black and Wendell Cooper.

Deconstruction of Thresholds Crossed Part 2 – Original choreography by Maida Withers with dancer Anthony Gongora, joined in improvisations by DCCo dancers Nate Bond, Tzveta Kassabova, Giselle Ruzany and guest artists, Monstah Black, Wendell Cooper, & Sarah Slifer. Film by Linda Lewett. Music by Audrey Chen, vocals and cello, and Steve Hilmy, electronic music.

TZVETA – Choreography by Maida Withers and Tzveta Kassabova, dancer, performing with projected installation of  films: Tzveta I by Anthony Gongora and Tzveta II by Ayo Okunseinde.   Music for film created and performed by Steve Hilmy, resident composer for MWDCCo.

Chroma – Improvisation with chroma colored green and orange objects with DCCo and Guest Artists; Music by Steve Hilmy.

Video documentation by Matthew Swift.