(1992) Rolling Thunder/Transformation, February 7 and 8, concludes the evening-length program, Dance for the Earth, Thomas Jefferson Community Center Theater, Arlington, VA.

“Rolling Thunder/Transformation intricately weaves rich and layered movement materials in a ritualistic contemporary dance narrative, a new world myth.  “The gift, the knowledge of the earth, is being brought forth today. Those who hear the message change – transforming themselves with the earth.”  Maida Withers

Aluminum (silver) tubes (objects of art) were discovered during a birthday celebration for Hilda Thorpe, noted American female sculptor and visual artist.  Thorpe encouraged us, dance company guest performers, to spend time looking for usable artifacts for performance in her attic (storage space for Hilda’s art), Thorpe’s well respected studio in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.  Original tubes, attic discovery, were offered for objects/props in the Rolling Thunder project. Hilda used these aluminum tubes and other functional objects related to inner workings of architecture as part of her visual art work.  Such objects were commonly used and included by artists of her generation. Hilda was associated with the distinguished “color school” in Washington, DC.

Video:  Rolling Thunder, February 7 & 8 performance:
Dance for the Earth:  https://vimeo.com/100908352; Rolling Thunder: (28:34 to 1:06:30)
Rolling Thunder: https://vimeo.com/101003244  (14:18 min) – See above.

(1992) Rolling Thunder / Transformation –  Dance for the Earth Evening-length Concert
May 12 – Brasilia, Brazil
Dance Construction Company  with Brazilian dancers
Projeto OMAME: Opening GALA
United Nations Earth Summit (Eco ’92) (related conference)
National Theatre of Brazil
9:00 pm

No video footage available – National Theater Dance Construction Company Concert, Brasilia, Brazil

(1992) Messenger Eagle and  Rolling Thunder / Transformation –  Dance for the Earth
June 14 or 15, 1992 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dance Construction Company, including Brazilian Dancers
Celebration de Terre – American Affiliate
United Nations Earth Summit (Eco ’92)
Playa da Flamengo Beach Stage (Compliments of Mayor & City of Rio de Janeiro)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Evening performance

Messenger Eagle and Rolling Thunder, la Playa da Flemengo beach stage, international celebration with performances from around the globe (on and off stage). Rolling Thunder in Rio de Janeiro included five Brazilian dancers.
MWDCCo American dancers: Dana Tai Soon Burgess, Stacy Palatt, Sandra Kammann, Janine Ploetz and Brazilian dancers (see below).

Video:  Rolling Thunder/Transformation excerpts La Playa do Flamengo beach stage performance: https://vimeo.com/102322719

*For more information about OMAME Projeto, please visit https://maidadance.com/works/united-nations-earth-summit-eco-92/

Recreating Rolling Thunder in Brasilia, Brazil and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil:
Each dancer in Rolling Thunder dances with and manipulates a metal (aluminum) tube.  In Brazil, aluminum pipes were created to specification. Dancers carried the tubes, wore them as a head dress, played and pounded the metal as a drum, and rolled them to create a thunderous global warning as part of the choreography.

Note of gratitude:  Maida’s earliest contact for participation in Eco ’92 was through Marilyn Wood, Celebration Artist, USA. We are grateful to Marilyn for introducing us to the opportunity to be participants in Eco ’92 as part of the international OMAME PROJETO.

Photo Below:  USA, Messenger Eagle (male solo, opening);  Rolling Thunder Above:  Dana Tai Soon Burgess, solo figure, Messenger Eagle, USA Rolling Thunder dancers
Below:  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – American and Brazilian Dancers, Rolling Thunder
Above: Rolling Thunder/Transformation – United Nation’s Eco ’92 Events
USA and Brazil cast –  La Playa da Flemengo Beach Stage, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Top Photo : Spirit Figures, USA               Bottom Photo – right – Messenger Eagle                              Dance for the Earth, USA,
Bottom Photo – left:  Still Rush
Lorena Cervantes, USA dancer

What the press is saying

Several years ago in New Mexico, choreographer Maida Withers was developing a new "eco-active" dance by exploring the White Sand Dunes near the Mexico border. But to her dismay, she found that her access to the dunes was limited. each morning she was not permitted to enter the area until 9:30 am because the U.S. military was testing SKUD missiles that were later used against Iraq. Withers sandy endeavors may not have helped Kuwait, but she hopes they will help the environment. "The work I'm doing at these sites in a way is a statement of preservation-it's a commitment to the beauty of these wilderness sites." Kim Friedman

(Christina Moura, v, Mariza Correa, Simone Martins, Regina Mendanco).