Washington/Tokyo International Artist Residency 
The Washington/Tokyo residence at GWU was instrumental in the creation of two works (see below):

Stone Ring

Stone Circle

1995 – March 31 and April 1 The Stone Ring, Studio J  Dance Theater, George Washington University at 8:00 pm, features:
*  Marilia, extreme vocals (Japan/Brazil/USA) – Guest Artist
*  Stephen Lockwood, keyboard (USA) – Guest Artist
*  Hiro, visual artist paints ‘live’ on stage (Japan/USA) – Guest Artist
*  Maida Withers,  dancer /choreographer / Professor – (USA) –
*  Melissa Doumitt, Heidi Geier, Nancy Menapace, Sarah Slifer,              Giselle Ruzany, Stacy Palatt, (GWUMA & BA dancers)

Studio J Dance Theater brings the audience into close proximity with performing artists manipulating ropes and rocks throughout the evening-length program in Studio J Theatre.
Sarah Slifer performs The Stone Ring, Studio J Theatre

1995 – March  30 (30:00 min – FREE PERFORMANCE)  12:00 noon   Excerpts from The Stone Ring were performed in GWU’s Lisner Auditorium (1500 seat theater), 21st and H Streets NW, Washington, DC.  The event featured dance and music and the visual artist painting on a large framed canvas on stage.

The Stone Ring poem (below) by Gozo Yoshimasu (Yokahama, Japan) – presented as an audio recording for The Stone Ring performance:

The Stone Ring
A mother-like shadow is saying
“Leave rope-marks
so that it won’t go back to the moon”
to a child

The voice of Sirius (Heaven’s Wolf)
“Let’s thin frost play, white
the fence will melt into the ground below”

If there’s a tree a tree, were you running around the annular
rings of stones?

Of a beautiful name, the tail still floats in the vale

Vehicle
Tilting the basket, Central Highway, Futaba Service Area
when we were near it
wisteria’s whispering voice, faintly, reaching my ear Mount
Big Sister’s voice

“Leave rope-marks on the slope

Stones, how many?”

“Eight”

Gozo Yoshimasu, Tokyo,  Japan

Washington/Tokyo Residency
George Washington University hosted a guest artist residency, designed by Professor Maida Withers, for international artists to create and perform a new work with professionals and students performing in a newly created evening-length production.  Professional artists (dance, vocals, piano, visual art) collaborated with Withers and GW students to create an engaging and daring, somewhat “extreme” work where dancers manipulate thick white cotton ropes, sometimes tied to large rocks that are then dragged and piled to create an interesting interactive environment during the performance while dance, vocals,  and poetry introduce the “extreme” and unexpected.  Dancers sometimes seek refuge in a collection/pile of rocks The informal space was an asset for audience involvement.

Note: We regret the inconvenience of the support pole that becomes an obstacle on the video and for live audience members situated around the performance space in Studio Theater, Building J, GWU