WPA – Early Works  (Washington Project for the Arts)

1974 Maida involvement with Washington Project for the Arts as a new multi-disciplinary organization in Washington, DC established by Alice Denny, facilitated the Dance Construction Company rehearsing  and performing in the WPA space.   We improvised events with live music, John Driscoll and others. All the rules of tradition faded away as we made choices and developed a following.

This is a temporary entry until further research can be done on the names of the projects. Some projects are included in maidadance.  Events here need further research from John Driscoll and WPA orgnization to locate titles, dates, etc:

Improvisation Performance: (Possibly an early version of White Mansions that eventually was performed at the Holy Rood Cemetery, DC)
In the WPA space with white fabric using the elevated space and live music:
(Dancers: Original MWDCCo dancers: Maida Withers, John Bailey, Brook Andrews, JoAnn Sellars, Betty Tittsworth.;  Music:  Steve Perlo on drums. This work became White Mansions, Holy Rood Cemetery site performance)

John Bailey and Steve Perlo

John Bailey

John Bailey and Brook Andrews

Christmas program:
Dancers put small Christmas Tree lights in all the holes in the large brick wall to create a visual environment.  Dancers each brought 3 or 4 costumes, hats, etc. in the colors of red, white, blue, others.  Each tim a dancer exited the stage. she/he  went into an anti-room (studio) and changed costumes.  Consequently dancers shared costumes and as you may guess, they did not necessarily wear them in the same manner.  Some costumes became props as well. ((Dancers: Original MWDCCo dancers: Maida Withers, John Bailey, Brook Andrews, JoAnn Sellars, Betty Tittsworth and Beth Burkhardt (dancer and costume designer).

Maida Withers and Brook Andrews

Maida Withers,  (unknown), John Bailey, Beth Burkhardt

John Bailey and Maida Withers

Maida Withers, Beth Burkhardt, John Bailey

SEE BOG WORKS  John Driscoll created an environment of homemade loudspeakers that were hung on ropes.  John sat in the middle of the room to perform his music. Dancers were part of the sound phenomena as well as dancing in the space.