Brook Andrews, Diane Floyd, Don Zuckerman, Maida Withers

(1978) December 8
Phase Tracing, an evening-length work, a collaboration with Ron Kuivila, experimental sound artist and composer.  In the Phase Tracing performance, dancer’s movements make inaudible sound audible with movements of the body or movement of silver strips of polyethylene/mylar strips hung from ceiling to floor in the stage space. Phase Tracing demonstrates MWDCCo early engagement with collaboration and experimentation with interactive technology.

(Program note)  “Dancing in a sculptural environment of transparent polyethylene and mylar strips hanging from ceiling to floor.  The audio installation is titled, Comparing Habits by Ron Kuivila.  The work involves sending sound into the space an octave above our hearing (ultrasonic) to create a field.  Within that field movement is translated into audible sound.  A fan moves the mylar and that also creates audibility of the ultrasound sent into the performance space from the wings by Kuivila.  Each dancers body makes distinctive sound even when doing the same movement.  The dancers distance from the origin of the sound also makes a difference in what sound is made audible. Microphones are an important aspect of the installation.”  Ron Kuivila

Phase Tracing demonstrates MWDCCo early engagement with collaboration and experimentation with interactive technology.

Note:  George Washington University invited Ron Kuivila to be an artist-in-residence to continue his work on sound and performance with graduate and undergraduate dance students.  For more information, please visit https://maidadance.com/works/phrase-tracing-11-the wall/

Dance Project was established in Washington, DC, 18th and Columbia Road NW,  by Jan Van Dyke.  This important community initiative later became Dance Place in NW, DC on the border of Maryland. Dance Place became an important part of a series of similar performance centers in New York City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Boston.  Maida Withers and the Dance Construction Company participated in a tour of Families Are Forever on the circuit of theatres in DC, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Boston.

Photo: Phase Tracing installation photo shot from the wings of the theater

Phase Tracing and Phase Tracing II (The Wall)  are works that reveal MWDCCo early engagement with collaboration and experimentation with interactive technology.

Phase Tracing II – The WALL (1979) April 27 and 28, Dorothy Betts Marvin Center Theatre. George Washington University continued the collaboration with Ron Kuivila and GW dancers engagement with audibility.

For example, the Phase Tracing collaboration with Ron Kuivila included an original movement phrase created by Brook Andrews.  That phrase became foundation of a beautiful “formal” work titled Catching Butterflies and Other Things That Move. https://maidadance.com/works/catching-butterflies-and-other-things-that move/

Informal performance (The Wall ?) Building K,  (1980)  Feb 29, March 1, March 2 with GW Students.

Diane Floyd and Don Zuckerman

Brook Andrews , Don Zuckerman, Diane Floyd, Maida Withers