So Fringe is one of my very favorite things about D.C., art, summer, theater, dance. and community. I performed in the first Cap Fringe 10 years ago, and I was delighted that Glade decided to make its Fringe debut this year. The big question: what would we do? Could we be true to both Glade and the spirit of Fringe?
Last fall, Glade decided to find a topic for our new dance by asking our friends, fans, and strangers to suggest topics. As we voted different suggestions up or down the list, I was disappointed to see one dealing with national security and data collection making its way higher and higher. It sounded wonky, dull, and uncomfortable to me--I prefer to hide some of my data as much as I can, and I'm wasn't sure where I stood on some of the bigger issues. What's more, I wasn't interested in devoted precious dance time to figuring it out.
Then we started work. And I volunteered to lead a rehearsal or two. So I needed a way in, and I started thinking about my internet browsing. I considered the times when keeping a secret is vitally important, and the times when it's even more important to broadcast a secret to the world, empowering the speaker and possibly neutralizing the secret's potential to damage or hurt the speaker or his/her peers. Often these moments relate to illness or abuse, and victims can become survivors when they broadcast their experiences.
We all have secrets. We are generally bad at keeping them (hence the popularity of Post Secret). What are your secrets? Which secrets will Glade tell, and which will we keep? Check out the show to find out! And while you're there, don't forget to tell us your secrets.
I'm immensely proud of the work that Glade has produced over the last 9 months and can't wait to share it with the world! But I still don't like sharing my data, and I'm not sure that my positions on data collection and national security have gained much clarity or consistency. I'm just glad to have been part of the process and the finished product!