1995 – March 31 and April 1 The Stone Ring, Studio J  Dance Theatre, George Washington University at 8:00 pm –  an evening-length performance, that features international guest artists (Washington/Tokyo International Artists in Residence) and select George Washington University BA and MFA dance students.

1995 – March  30  The Stone Ring (30:00 min excerpt) (FREE) GWU Lisner Auditorium (1500 seat theater), 21st and H Streets NW, Washington, DC.  The event also featured Hiro, Japanese-American visual artist, painting on a large framed canvas on stage.

Washington/Tokyo International Artists in Residence:
George Washington University hosted a residency, designed by Professor Maida Withers, for international artists to create and perform a new work, The Stone Ring, that featured both professional artists and GW BA and MFA dance students.  Artists continued their collaboration to create and, then,  perform a new work, Stone Circle in Tokyo, Japan.

The Stone Ring guest artists include Marilia, extreme vocalist  (Japan/Brazil/USA), Stephen Lockwood, keyboard, (USA); Hiro, a celebrated Japanese-American visual artist, who creates a painting mounted on the Studio Theater wall.  Maida Withers, Professor and Artistic Director of the Dance Construction Company, designed the Washington/Tokyo International Residency Project and participated fully as a collaborator/choreographer and dancer.   The Stone Ring (poem)  written and performed by noted Japanese poet, Gozo Yoshimasu, is featured on a recording during the performance (see written poem below). Dancers manipulate thick white cotton ropes, sometimes tied to large rocks that are then dragged and manipulated during the performance.  Dancers sometimes seek refuge in a collection/pile of rocks.

Washington/Tokyo International Artists’ Residency – George Washington University:
(1995) March 31 and April 1:  professional artists and GW MA and BA students collaborate during a residency to create and, then, present an evening-length work, The Stone Ring,  Studio J Theatre and Lisner Auditorium, George Washington University.
The Stone Ring :  https://

(1995) June 3: professional artists collaborate at George Washington University and in Tokyo to create/present the evening-length work, Stone Circle, Tokyo, Japan, Beam Theater.  https://maidadance.com/works/stone-circle/

The Stone Ring and Stone Circle are distinct works with shared objects and shared elements – both works involve professional collaborators but to different artistic goals.

Japan Performance (tour) Schedule:
(1995) May 20 – Hokkaido, Japan: International Environment Conference – Maida Withers perform a solo (version of Ancient Lands / Ancient Peoples)

(1995) May 30 – Yokohama, Japan – Improvisation performance with Gozo Yoshimasu, Japanese epoch poet, husband of Marilia, singer, The Stone Ring and Stone Circle

(1995) May 31 – Yokahama, Japan – improvisation performance at S.T. Spot, Yokahama, Japan with Maida Withers, performer, and Gozo Yoshimasu, noted Japanese poet “live”.

(1995) June 3 – Stone Circle premiere – Beam Theatre, Tokyo, Japan with International artists Maida Withers, choreographer/performer, Stephan Lockwood, keyboard musician/composer, Gozo Yoshimasu, poet (author and performer), Marilia, singer/writer,  Francois, design artist from Australia, Shuichi Chino, street dancer (name is not sure????).
Stone Circle Performance video:  https://vimeo.com/99330808

(1995) June date TBD – Yokahama, Japan – Maida Withers documentary video of Kazuo Ohno, Japan international Butoh artist, teaching a workshop to international students in Ohno’s  Yokahama home studio: https://vimeo.com/104427897

(1995) June 8 and 9 -Seoul, Korea / June 8 and 9, 1995 (inconsistent with Yokohama class)

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

Sarah Slifer, BA Dancer and performer with Maida Withers Dance Construction Company

Poem written and performed by Gozo Yoshimasu in Yokahama, Japan:

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