Rehearsal – Still Rush, Choreography by Maida Withers with Mino Nicholas Dance Company, New York City, NY
(https://vimeo.com/91848739)

Premiere – Still Rush, New York City dancer’s  – January 12 and 13, 1991, Dance Place, Washington, DC. (https://vimeo.com/91811679)

Premiere Performance: Dance Construction Company – Dance Place Concert,  January 12 -13, 1991, Washington, DC:  Mino Nicholas Dance Company dancers

(1991) Still Rush (premiere) January 12, 8 pm and January 13, 4 pm;  Dance Place, Washington, DC.
An impassioned work that makes reference to forced migrations, in general, and, specifically to Withers’ pioneer ancestor’s migration from Missouri, Illinois, and other locations, to territory in the Mountain West – future Salt Lake City in what became the State of Utah.   The original work was titled Passage, but was later changed for performance.  Music for Still Rush was by SHAMAN, an exceptional group based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

History of Still Rush commission:  Maida was invited to create a new work for Mino Nicholas Dance Company, New York City, NY.  Maida commuted to NYC to audition and rehearse. The performance was scheduled to premiere in the theater associated with the Maison de Francois, NYC, NY.  When the publicity went out for the New York City performance, financial issues raised about the Nicholas producing organization made it impossible for the New York City performance to continue.  Previous sponsors arranged to have the event at the Maison de Francois cancelled.

Dance Construction Company was booked to present  a concert at Dance Place in Washington, DC. January 12 and 13, 1991. Still Rush premiere was presented at Dance Place, featuring the New York City dancers, along with the following works Prolog; Spirit Path / Migration / Remains; Crossing the Edge by the Dance Construction Company (See Program in Archive folder)

Dance Construction Company performances: 
Still Rush was reconstructed and performed by Maida Withers Dance Construction Company in the evening-length Dance for the Earth Concert in Arlington, Virginia, February 7 & 8, 1992, Arlington Community Center Theatre.  Still Rush was also performed as part of Dance for the Earth – Rolling Thunder / Transformation in the spectacular National Theatre in Brasilia, Brazil as part of the Omame Projecto United Nations Earth Summit, Eco ’92, events.

Background:  The concept relates to all forced migrations of people, including Withers’ pioneer ancestors, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who were, from their perspective, driven (forced) from their homes in Missouri and Illinois. Men, women, and children traveled by handcart, wagon, and on foot during all seasons of the year in what is know geographically as Territory of the Great Plains.  Many died, some were killed.  Ultimately they arrived at what later became known as the Great Salt Lake Valley. This is, perhaps, one of the many migrations by people seeking religious freedom where a place of peace representing their values. Hundreds from America and Europe made the trek, many died during the passage, and settled in the a valley in the mountains now know as “Salt Lake Valley.”   The Utah area became a territory of the United states in 1848 and became a state in 1896.