https://vimeo.com/519283804 (insert video???)

(1997) – December 5 – Seeing Jazz Move – Dance and Music Improvisation performance inspired by the popular public exhibition “Seeing Jazz”  presented by the Smithsonian International Gallery – S. Dillon Ripley Center, Washington, DC, December 5, 1997 at 6:30 pm.  FREE
*The performance was billed as part of the DC 3rd International Improvisation Plus+ Festival, 1997.

Event and Dance Program:  Maida Withers, Curator, DCCo, local, national  and international dancers (Katie Duck and Company, The Netherlands).
Music, James Levy, Curator, Washington Jazz Musicians, including noted female jazz singer.

Dancers and musicians from DC, New York, the Netherlands, and China improvised in 7 galleries in the Smithsonian International Gallery in a performance curated by Maida Withers for the DC 3rd International Improvisation Plus+ festival.  Jim Levy directed the jazz music ensemble with diverse jazz musicians performing live in the seven galleries.

Maida Withers, Dance Curator:
Maida Withers, Joseph Mills, DC;  Wen Hui (China), Gloria McLean (NYC), Cyrus Khambatta (Seattle), Reginald Crump (DC/NYC),  Sarah Slifer (Boston), Daniel Burkholder, Sharon Mansur (DC);  Rob Kitsos (Seattle); Katie Duck and Vincent Cacialano  (The Netherlands).

Jim Levy, Music Curator:
Jazz musicians:  James Levy, keyboard; Sharon Clark, vocals; Pepe Gonzalez, bass; ? Drums;  Willfredo Cruz, Congas,  Ricky Loza, Drums.    Michael Vatcher, musician/composer (The Netherlands).

The exhibition was organized by Smithsonian Institution traveling Exhibition Service…A presentation of America’s Jazz Heritage, a partnership of the Lila-Wallace Reader’s Digest Fund and the Smithsonian Institution. Exhibition included: Romare Bearden, In E Sharp, 1981, Oil and Collage on paper.  Courtesy Estate of Romare beaden Rombare Bearden Foundation, Inc.  Seeing Jazz: artists and Writers on Jazz is published by Chronicle Books and is available in bookstores everywhere (c) 1997 Smithsonian Institution.  Poster Design by Kessler Design Group, Ltd.

The performance was also billed with the DC 3rd International Improvisation Plus+ Festival, 1997.

What the press is saying

"The "Seeing JAZZ" exhibition presents a panorama of artistic responses to jazz music through a collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings, collages and photographs. Musicians and dancers will collaborate in the art of improvisation for "Seeing JAZZ Move." Michelle Higgins