Charmed Particles

Electronic site work, Expansion (80s and 90s), Live Music, Original Music

Charmed Particles music was performed by John Driscoll at the Washington Project for the Arts.

Charmed Particles, music, according to John Driscoll, was influential on music for Stall. For Charmed Particles there were no rotating loudspeakers.

“Stall. performance is a result of a dialogue between art and science, and presents an innovative work integrating art, music, dance, and electronic technology (rotating loudspeaker).”

Request has been made to John Driscoll for more music and related dance information.

Sky Cathedrals – Media Project (Film 15:00)

Expansion (80s and 90s), Experimental, Films, Installation / Visual, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Technology and Dance, Work

Sky Cathedrals (Film 29:56)

(1986) – Collaboration of Maida Withers, choreographer, with Adam Peiperl, Kinetic light sculptor. Maida’s choreography created for Laser Dance (Quest, Domain/Dialogue, other) is combined with kaleidoscope images by Adam Peiperl, Kinetic Light Sculptor. Funded by GWU UFF Faculty Grant to Maida Withers Originally titled Sky Cathedrals.

Three experimental videos combining choreography from Laser Dance (collaboration with Rockne Krebs for Lisner Auditorium) by Maida Withers with polarized light sculptures by Adam Peiperl, kinetic light sculptor. The visual “light” images are real and not computer generated. The sculptures have names such as Obelisks, Cube, other.

Video recorded in 1987. Music excerpted from Harmonielehre, by John Adams. Peiperl’s kinetic light sculptures have also been projected onto the stage (screens or scrims) in dance performance with Maida Withers Dance Construction Company.

Video for Sky Cathedrals received funding from George Washington University, Maida Withers faculty, UFF funding.

Kinetic Light Sculptures: Adam Peiperl
Choreography by Maida Withers – Laser Dance
Dancers: Ben Watts, Damilla Malmstrom, Karin Serio, Larry Graves, Liliana Fortna, Stephanie Simmons, Susa Short-Bensinger, Tom Truss;
Film Editor: Paul Caffrey

As with many of my projects with Adam Peiperl, we were not video documenting with professional cameras.

Uploaded on Sep 3, 2014 at 11:44 am

#kinetic light sculptures#dance#dance film

Sculptures by Adam Peiperl, Visual Artist, Washington, DC

Mass – A Fifth Generation Radiator Brought to us on the Sabbath

Foundation Period (60s to 80s), Gender and Feminism, Installation / Visual, Live Music, Original Music, Solo Choreography, Stage Works, Voice and Text, Work

(1972) Mass – A Fifth Generation Radiator Brought to Us on the Sabbath: A dance opera

Choreography: Maida Withers with Sharron Rose
Music: John Driscoll
Dance Solo: Sharron Beckenheimer (Rose) Dancers/Vocals: GW MA dance students
Premiere: Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre
(Photo, Sharron Beckenheimer)

Sharron Beckenheimer (Rose) performed a strong, dramatic, dance solo on stage, choreographed with Maida Withers, with a cast of 15 dancers/vocalists from the GW Dance Program, in Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre. Sharron performed scripted dance improvisation with dancers presenting improvised vocals/sounds in the house of the auditorium, sounds behind the audience and down the aisles, along with John Driscoll performing live music. The resulting surround sound was captivating.

The title MASS was selected. When we discovered that Leonard Bernstein’s production, MASS, was being presented at the Kennedy Center near the time of our performance, it was decided our work would have a poetic extension in the title: MASS: A 5th Generation Radiator Brought to Us on the Sabbath (Additional title contributed by John Driscoll).

Sharron, who now goes by the name of Rose, is internationally recognized for her work in Eastern dance and music. She is an expert in Chi Gong and other Eastern dance and music forms. Sharron lived and studied in India for several years and is connected to singers, dancers, musicians related to India and Asian cultures. In addition to performing, Sharron is an author, teacher, and award winning filmmaker. Sharron has interviewed many great music and dance practitioners. http://sacredmysteries.com

“MASS” was created during a period of time in the 1970s when I was active in the national effort to pass the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America (MERA). Feminism was a word gaining an open following in the attempt to get the states to pass the Amendment on a state by state basis. Curiously, at that time, GENDER was not such a prominent term, but feminism was penetrating all aspects of life in America.” (M. Withers).

Uncategorized

Naked Truth – Tzveta Artisphere Solo

Installation / Visual, Interactive Technology, Live Music, Museums/Galleries, Original Music, Solo Choreography, Turn of Century 2000 to 2020, Turn of the Century (2000-2020), Work

2011 – Tzveta Kassabova performs an excerpt of her solo from the 20 minute trio, Naked Truth, for Maida Withers Films at Artisphere Theatre, Arlington, VA. Artisphere, an unusual curved stage in a large theatre with the seats moving upward like an amphitheatre. The large wall behind was an excellent screen for projections during live performance.

Choreography – Maida Withers with Tzveta Kassabova
Dancer – Tzveta Kassabova
Music – Steve Hilmy performs live

Maida Withers Dance Construction Company
Washington, DC
(c) 2011

Pnumbral Raincoast

Experimental, Foundation Period (60s to 80s), Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Live Music, Original Music, Stage Works, Technology and Dance

(February 27, 1974 and February 28, 1974) Program says Thursday/Friday but those dates are Wednesday and Thursday????
Washington Project for the Arts/1227 G Street NW/Washington, DC
Program information provided by John Driscoll, 7/6/2025 (physical program, difficult to read so typed information below)

Steve Bloom Brook Andrews
John Driscoll John Bailey
Phil Edelstein JoAnn Sellars
Julie Schwartz Betty Tittsworth
Maida Withers

These performances have been organized by Maida Withers and John Driscoll.
The publicity flyer was designed by Brook Andrews, and the costume/act
for Got Light / White On Wings by John Bailey.

THE DANCE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY is a group of Washington based dancers whose primary focus is the construction of events and performances for realization of a total work unique to each setting. Improvisation and scripting, as well as choreography, are integrated by the group in their compositional structures. The company also performs repertory works. Maida Withers is the founder and director of the company. The members are Brook Andrews,John Bailey, Liz Lerman, JoAnn Sellars, Betty Tittsworth, and Maida Withers.1974

PNUMBERAL RAINCOAST is a contemporary performance group. The members are involved with various aspects of performance. Including technology, homemade instruments, improvisation, comosistion, and the design for performance events. The present members are John Driscoll, Julie Schwartz, Phil Edelstein, and Steve Bloom.

Performance / Thursday, (Wednesday) February 27, 1974, 8:00 p.m./1227 G St. N.W. Friday,(Thursday) February 28, 1974 @ 8:00 p.m./1227 G St. N.W. Paper says Thursday Friday, but those dates are Tuesday and Wednesday.

Malaise

Stage Works, Work

1969 – Malaise
A pervasive vulgarity; 2 men 4 women; Premiere – Music: Dixon; Lisner Auditorium, Washington, DC . Brilliant undergraduate GW dancers including Julia Hart, Jim Bunting, Jeanne Jones. (See http://maidadance.com/works/early-works-by-maida-withers-1966-to-1971/).

Standing figure: Ulysses Dove (became Cunningham and Ailey dancer)

Re-Re Voltaire – WPA 35th Anniversary – H Street Revitalization

Experimental, Improvisation, Site Work, Turn of the Century (2000-2020)

2010 – May 10, 17, & 24, 2010: Re-Re Voltaire (Cabaret Voltaire) WPA sponsored a site event on H Street in celebration of their 35th Anniversary that take place in a vacant lot next to Gallery O/H at 1354 H Street NE, WDC. These event were to celebrate their 35th anniversary and also recognize the reestablishment of H STreet following the terrible riots that burned down so many parts of Washington during the Civil Rights agitations. B Stanley, curator, suggested works to be 3 to 10 minutes in length and reflect work moving through Dadaism, Futurism, Surrealism or Situationism. Alberto Gaitán was also involved as a producer and long time supporter of WPA. The Pink Line Project was also a sponsor.

“Internationally renowned dancers Anthony Gongora, Tzveta Kassabova, and Maida Withers with Steve Hilmy, composer/musician, will perform “Collision Course,” a highly charged and physical improvisation of “continental shifting” proportions for three humans, pillows, and electronic music in the site, among the audience, and on stage.”

At that time, Maida and the Company were re-exploring the use of the pillow tied to the body. The former use was with Chasen Gaver performance, Evening of Poetry and Dance II, and further development for Collision Course – a.k.a. Pillow Talk. The dancers freely moved among the audience at tables and the musicians. The advertisements (words painted on the walls) were included in the performance. Dancers/collaborators: Maida Withers, Giselle Ruzany, Tzveta Kassabova, Anthony Gongora.

FareWell: Tipping Point (Maida Withers)

Conference, Earth and Environment, Live Music, Original Music, Solo Choreography, Tours, Turn of the Century (2000-2020), Voice and Text

FareWell – Tipping Point

Naked Truth – Tzveta Solo With Film Installation

Films, Improvisation, Installation / Visual, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Original Music, Solo Choreography, Stage Works, Technology and Dance, Turn of the Century (2000-2020), Work

2012 – Tzveta Kassabova performs with Film Installation of Tzveta dancing her solo from Naked Truth as part of Involuntary Encounters Event in Dorothy Betts Marvin Center: An evening of diverse dances by dance artists, friends and former dancers with MWDCCo.

2012 – Tzveta Kassabova member of Maida Withers Dance Construction Company, performed a solo from the stage work, Naked Truth, choreographed by Maida Withers. The films presented side by side on stage are part of Maida Withers Dance Portraits on Screen Series: TZVETA I (Edited by Anthony Gongora) and TZVETA II (Edited by Ayo Okunseinde). based pm the stage performance. Original music composed and performed live by electronic musician/composer, Steve Hilmy. Naked Truth is a trio created by Maida Withers with three dancers. The solo for Tzveta Kassabova became part of Withers’ Dance Portraits on Screen where the essence of the dancer (style, physicality, emotion) is the subject for dance. The TZVETA films further explore aspects of the performing artist as subject.

Originally, Naked Truth was a trio created by Maida Withers with the Dance Construction Company (Tzveta Kassabova, Anthony Gongora, Giselle Ruzany). Video documentation presented here as part of the IN VOLUNTARY ENCOUNTERS event at Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre, May 5, 2012, Washington, DC Video documentation of the performance was by Sarah Snyder.

Sands Cycles

Stage Works, Work

Question regarding the location of this performance: Dance Place, Marvin Center Theatre???? Check program in archives.

View Spirit Path/Migration also on Earth Spirit Rising as a QUARTET:
https://vimeo.com/93606130 ( 0:32:50 to 0:48:50)

1990 – Spirit Path / Migration is a duet conceived and created by Maida Withers. Mark Thompson and Maida Withers are dancers and vocalists in the work. The opening kaleidoscope visuals (slides) are created by Adam Peiperl, Kinetic Light Sculptor. The closing photographs are by Verabel Call Cluff. Live Native American vocals by Nick Mandoza and Raymond Dude, Maryland.

Spirit Path/Migration part of Withers’ Earth Works dances.

The opening movements (entrance) were derived from the Yellow Springs Institute, creative residency, in Philadelphia that was created with four dancers (2 men, 2 women). Manipulation of white hand held objects to receive projected images was discovered in an improvisation session in Moab, Utah with Bruce Hucko, photographer and also appeared later in Utah * Spirit Place * Spirit Planet * Tukuhnikivatz.

1989 Path (Yellow Springs Institute, Philadelphia, PA)
1990 Spirit Path/Migration
1991 Path/Migration /Remains (Arlington, VA)
CHECK archive programs to confirm the information on Spirit Path/Migrtion/remains.

Maida Withers and Mark Thompson, dancers in photos; Set by Carl Gudenius

Visual Projections, Adam Peiperl with Mark Thompson

Washington Project for the Arts – Performance

Electronic site work, Experimental, Foundation Period (60s to 80s), Gender and Feminism, Group Choreography, Improvisation, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Live Music, Museums/Galleries, Original Music, Post Modernism, Rehearsals, Site Work, Voice and Text, Work

(1975 – )
Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) was founded in 1975 by the art impresario Alice Denney, organizer of the legendary NOW Festival in 1966. Artists joined in cleaning out the bird dung in a vacated building that was formerly a building of dentists offices on D Street NW Washington, DC that became the legendary WPA, the first interdisciplinary organization to be funded in the USA by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Maida Withers and the Dance Construction Company, a not for profit federal cultural organization, was founded in Washington, DC in 1974. Prior to that time Maida invited dancers, many MA dance students at GWU, to create and perform in her works and on collective, site, stage, choreography and improvisation projects. Maida was a professor of dance at GWU starting in 1965. Maida was an active associate with Washington Project for the Arts from the founding of that organization. WPA was relocating in spaces in DC and MWDCCo joined in those projects as well. Maida was program chair for WPA for eight years during the formative period with Alice Denny. Associating with WPA provided interaction with the BEST visual artists in DC including Rockne Krebs, laser light artist, and others.

Maida Withers Dance Construction Company presented many events in the large open performance space on the 3rd floor. Maida served on the Board of Directors for WPA where artists collectively selected the exhibitions and performances. WPA was important in the development of an interdisciplinary approach with the Dance Construction Company.

MWDCCo presented choreographed dances and evenings of experimentation and improvisation – introducing new approaches to integrating dance, visual art, and live music. The Company was important in the founding of experimentation, collaboration, improvisation, site work and other innovations by artists of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The Company was found dancing in unannounced and unexpected locations (i.e. an entire Sunday afternoon locating and performing in fountains in Washington, DC). We were rehearsing three times a week and presenting performances every six weeks. It was an astonishing and productive period. No HOLDS barred with the dancers. It was a rich and creative period for these unusual artists who came together following their MA studies at GWU.

John Bailey, dancer, with Steve Bloom

John Bailey, Co-Founder of MWDCCo
Washington Project for the Arts, Building Under Renovation

John Bailey with Brook Andrews

Thresholds Crossed – Norilsk Performance

Conference, Earth and Environment, Original Music, Political Topic, Politics, Stage Works, Turn of the Century (2000-2020), Work

(2006) Indigenous Conference: Integrity of Cultural Space – the Notion of “Border” in Historical and Contemporary Contexts.”
Note: Norilsk is a closed city in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia located south of the western Taymyr Peninsula.

View duet @ on video 23:00 to 24:330 http://maidadance.com/works/thresholds-crossed/; http://maidadance.com/works/thresholds-crossed/
https://vimeo.com/6880178 (1:14:34)

Luba Kusovnikova, Russian arts producer and intellect, invited Maida Withers to attend the prestigious indigenous peoples conference in Norilsk, Russia and present Russian dancers, Konstantin Grouss and Anatasia Oleynik, performing a duet from MWDCCO’s Russian/American work, Thresholds Crossed.
Special Russian visas were required for visiting Norilsk (AI summary:

Norilsk is one of the northernmost cities in the world, located above the Arctic Circle.
It is a major industrial center, primarily known for nickel and palladium mining.
Known for the largest oil spill in arctic history.
The city experiences extreme polar climate conditions, with long, harsh winters.
Norilsk is situated approximately 90 kilometers from the Kara Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean.
The region is home to unique wildlife and ecosystems, despite heavy industrialization. Home of Russian Arctic Military.
Access to Norilsk is limited, with no direct road connections to the rest of Russia.

The conference was dedicated to issues shared by Sami indigenous peoples in Russia, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

*Norilsk is one of the oldest and most polluted cities in Russia. Permafrost and other environment aspects had been drastically eroded.

*Luba also invited MWDCCo to participate in a three-week creative arts residency in Solovky Island in the North Sea of Russia in the White Sea.
This was a summer residency in the village of one of the earliest GULAG sites in Russia.

Still Rush (NYC Dancers)

Uncategorized

1992 Still Rush
An impassioned work based on Withers’ pioneer ancestor’s migration from Missouri to Utah territory. Maida was invited to create a new work with Mino Nicholas Dance Company with rehearsals in NYC. The performance was scheduled to be premiered in the theater associated with the Maison de Francois, NYC, NY. When the publicity went out for the work, several organizations who had trouble with Mr. Nicholas previously arranged to have that event cancelled. Maida was doing a concert at Dance Place so Still Rush was presented along with two other dances. SHAMAN, music. After that performance the work was reconstructed on MWDCCo and performed as part of Dance for the Earth – Rolling Thunder / Transformation.

Premiere: Dance Place, Washington, DC

Time: (0:41:53)

Laser Dance: Quest-Domain (no laser)

Expansion (80s and 90s), Experimental, Original Music, Post Modernism, Stage Works, Work

(April 28, 1985)
Quest (Part I) and Domain (Part II) and Dialogue (Part III)
National Dance Week, Dance Fest ’85
Glen Echo Park, Washington, DC

Preview of opening sections of upcoming Laser Dance, world premiere, at Lisner Auditorium, June 5 & 6, 1985, with laser installation by Rockne Krebs and Synclavier II Music by Bob Boilen.

For Quest and Domain preview, dancers wore clear white plastic pants and tops and protective goggles (symbolic of laser goggles worn for protection when dancing in the laser installation). The exquisite choreography lasted 14 minutes as “dancers appear again and again, their limbs slicing the air in sustained arcs.” (See review, below, by Suzanne Levy, Washington Post, Monday April 29, 1985)

See phostos below.

Brook Andrews, Larry Graves, Dale Crittenberger, Stephanie Simmons, Liliana Fortna

Susan Bensinger and Dale Crittenberger

Susan Bensinger and Dale Crittenberger
Susan Short Bensinger

Susan Short Bensinger

Review of the preview performance, Quest, Domain, Dialogue at Glen Echo Park:
“Of particular interest was the Dance Construction company’s tantalizing excerpt from Maida Withers’ Laser Dance,” which is to be premiered in its entirety in June. Withers, who often collaborates with other performing and visual artists, is working in “Laser Dance” with argon laser art by Rockne Krebs and digitally synthesized score by Bob Boilen.”
Last night’s performance of “Quest,” the 14-minute opening section of Withers’ evening-length work, was a given sans laser art, allowing for a concentrated view of the dance itself.
“The opening of Quest sees dancers in high-tech translucent plastic suits and goggles pour through a break in the backdrop in a seemingly endless stream. The effect is that of the visual trickeryof a Mobius strip as the same dancers appear again and again, their limbs slicing the air in sustained arcs. As the section ends, the windmilling of the limbs gradually breaks down into an intricate tracery of quick, delicate footwork.” Washington Post: (click)Suzanne Levy

Maida Withers Dance Construction Company

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