The Remember Balloons is a heartwarming dance-theater production that brings families together through storytelling. Inspired by the award-winning children’s book by the same name, The Remember Balloons uses music, movement and storytelling telling to explore memory, family and connection.
“I found the book in the library under ‘Books About Difficult Topics,’ took it home, read it with my kids – and knew I had to make it into movement,” said Dominic Moore-Dunson, the show’s co-producer, director and choreographer. “It’s a story about love, remembrance and what happens when memories start to fade.”
The work equips children and families with the language and resources necessary to communicate about and hold on to memories when someone we love begins to forget.
“So many families have been impacted by memory loss, whether through aging, Alzheimer’s or dementia,” said co-producer Ashley Moore-Dunson. “Watching a loved one forget can be heartbreaking, but it also reminds us to cherish the moments we still have.”
Studies continually show that music has a unique way of bringing memories back to life. A familiar song, a melody from the past can unlock feelings and stories that we thought were lost.
“My compositions for this piece are meant to hold those emotions – like a musical scrapbook of love and remembrance,” said composer and jazz great Theron Brown.
“This piece is full of heart. We made it for young people and their grown-ups – to open the door for conversations we often avoid but deeply need,” Dominic said. “It’s tender. It’s joyful. It’s one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever made.”Through dance in this piece, the actors can express what words often can’t. The weight of holding on to memories. The fear of losing them and the beauty of passing them on.
“This show holds a special place in my heart, as it was born out of my own family's journey with Alzheimer's disease,” Dominic said. “I often wish that a show like this had been present for my family, as it would have provided a tool to initiate some of the more difficult conversations and emotions everyone faced.”
“This piece is full of heart. It’s joyful. It’s one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever made.”
This dance theater piece was created not only to introduce families and young people to positive and appropriate ways to engage in those difficult conversations but also to immerse them in the whimsical and joyful world of storytelling.
The show is filled with moments that encourage the audience to dance, move and laugh, offering a sense of playfulness and wonder because it’s essential to balance the more challenging themes with extreme moments of joy and fun, so the audience will experience a full range of emotions—just as life itself offers.
The Remember Balloons isn’t just a performance. It’s an opportunity to reflect on your own remember balloons and to celebrate the people and moments that have shaped your life.
To fully experience this beautiful piece, you might consider reading the book with your family, then seeing the show. Below are some questions that you can talk about together after the show.
What are the “balloons” in this story?
How are they like memories?
Why does Grandpa have so many balloons at the beginning?
What memories would make up your own balloons?
How does James feel when Grandpa’s balloons start to drift away?
What does it mean when James realizes he’s now holding his own and Grandpa’s balloons at the end?
What are some ways to remember and share stories with family members, especially those who may have fading memories?
Think of a happy memory with a family member. Draw a balloon with a picture of that memory in it.