Shadow of the Valley

Between the COVD-19 Pandemic lockdown, demonstrations against anti-Black police violence, and a presidential election many Americans are more reliant on their digital identities and the platforms they live on than ever before. It's no secret that these identities and platforms don't always serve our best interests. So can we re-imagine a new way of using these tools, or are we stuck with the negatives?

Our guest, Erica Gionfriddo, explored these ideas with her dance troupe, ARCOS in 2019 and we sat down to talk about it that November. In the piece, entitled Ether Junk, they and their dancers dove into the treacherous psychological straits of identity performance through social media, only to turn it on its head and re-imagine what it could be instead.

For a review of Ether Junk and anti-racism resources please visit: https://shadowofthevalley.com/resources/

Ether Junk premiered at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center August 30–September 8, 2019 and was supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department, presented with the support of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department's Artist Access Program. 

Performance by Celeste Camfield, Alexa Capareda, Ginnifer Joe,Hailley Laurèn, Sarah Annie Navarrete, Taryn Lavery, Mackenzie Lawrence, Rachel Meador, Mia Moi, Oddalys Salcido

Dramaturgy by Rachel Nayer and Erica Saucedo

Media by Eliot Gray Fisher

Choreography and Direction by Erica Gionfriddo

Intermedia Photo Installation by Carla Alcántara and Sarah Annie Navarrete

[Note: Due to the pandemic lockdown, I was unable to access my usual studio equipment to record the voiceovers. As a result, you may notice some variance in sound quality.]