November 19th, 2010
My family and I recently spent the evening viewing African animals, glaciers, icebergs, and choreography by Professor of Dance Maida Withers. In the Washington, D.C. premiere of Farewell, the End of the World as We Know It OR Dancing Your Way to Paradise, Withers dramatically performed a multi-media piece that reflected her ongoing interests in ecology and the environment.
Conceived, choreographed, and performed by Withers, the piece was illustrated by visually delightful images from across the globe that flashed behind her as she danced. I was intrigued by the international influences and fascinated by the resulting composition. With other members of the Maida Withers Dance Construction Company, Withers has performed sections of this project in New York and Salt Lake City as well as abroad in Nairobi, Kenya, and Rio de Janerio.
If you’re on campus this weekend, be sure to catch Fall Danceworks, which will feature choreography by faculty, including Withers, and students. Performances will continue November 19, and 20 at the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre.
Tags: Dance, Maida Withers, performance, the arts
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July 6th, 2010
Dean Barratt and President of Steinway Piano Gallery David Slan.
I dreamed of Bach and concertos last week—our Department of Music received an anonymous gift of 28 Steinway pianos, making The George Washington University one of only 100 “all-Steinway Universities” in the country.
This magnificent gift will be such a treat for our talented students and help build our growing music program. We could not be more grateful to our mystery donor for his or her generosity and commitment. My Executive Associate Dean and former Chair of the Department of Music, Roy Guenther, said it best: “I never dreamed that something like this would be possible.”
During move-in day early last week, the pianos caused quite a stir in the halls. We literally widened the door on one room so that we could move in the gorgeous baby grand piano, and employed some creative rearranging in our music rooms to accommodate our glorious gifts.
To our gracious donor, please accept our special thanks for the pianos and for your scholarship support. The American-made Steinway pianos are a welcome addition to GW, especially as we celebrate the Department of Music’s 50th anniversary this year.
Tags: Department of Music, scholarship, Steinway, the arts
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