(1992 ) Messenger Eagle is primarily a male solo in Dance for the Earth, an evening of dances celebrating the Earth,  that pays homage to the important American symbol, the eagle.   In America, and especially with Native Americans, and other cultures as well, the Eagle is admired and held in great reverence.  When working on the red earth sites in the Southwestern United States it was always a glorious moment when an Eagle soared above with its great power, strength, and beauty.

Maida became familiar with the Eagle when she was a very young child living in Kanab, Utah. The red earth buttes surrounding Kanab, were a convenient, stunning, resting place for Eagles to safely view the world below.

“For the performance, Messenger Eagle, the Eagle is revered as a messenger to and from the Gods.  If you are in communication with the Eagle you might receive a message from the Gods or, perhaps, send a message to the Gods.” Maida Withers

Messenger Eagle premiered at Thomas Jefferson stage in Arlington, Virginia, in 1992, as a central part of the evening-length program, Dance for the Earth created by Maida with the Dance Construction Company.  Dana Tai Soon Burgess represented the Eagle, a central character in the large group choreography with dancers performing with aluminum tubes.  The silver tubes were discovered in the attic of the home of artist, Hilda Thorpe, the place for storage of Hilda’s objects of art.  Hilda was anxious for us to look through these remnants and select items to use in performance.  Many artists at that time were using building materials and other objects to create art.

The aluminum tubes were exceptional objects, instrument, partners for the work titled Rolling Thunder. Tubes, silver colored aluminum, were not only beautiful objects on stage, but had various characteristics and potentials as partners with dancers:  dancers put their heads in and sang and made sounds; silver tubes became an eloquent head dress; when tubes were rolled and played (pounded) they created a threatening sound and sound became  thunderous – tubes, when played, became the voice of a drum, and in unison, rolling thunder.  Messenger Eagle – Transformation was performed by Maida Withers Dance Construction Company dancers along with Brazilian dancers for the performance that was part of the United Nation’s Earth Summit (Eco’92) programming in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.   This stunning performance was on a large elevated stage on the beach in Rio de Janeiro,  sponsored by the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro.

View Dance for the Earth (minute 28:28 to 36:01):

Dana Tai Soon Burgess, “Messenger Eagle” soloist, with Maida Withers Dance Construction Company, dancers for “Rolling Thunder.”