Dance with Dementia

Dance with Dementia
Bandone Production/ Suzanne Huen (Taiwan)

In 2020, the world began to experience Covid-19.

In the same year, my mother was diagnosed with depression and subsequently with dementia, and by the end of 2021, as my mother’s caregiver, I had created Dance with Dementia.

In early 2024, my mother passed away due to kidney failure, returning to heaven, and it was later that same year that I attended the 12th Atlanta Fringe Festival with my team, carrying a heart of mourning. We performed four shows at the Metropolitan Theatre and ultimately won the Critics’ Choice 2024 award.

I hope to continue sharing the creation of Dancing with Dementia with different friends and to further develop the work. As the world faces the phenomenon of an aging population, we or our loved ones may be at risk of developing dementia. I hope more people can give more concern to this illness and the needs of caregivers.

Originally a local theatre group in Taiwan, Bandone Production transformed into a company in 2020 due to the pandemic. Beyond performing arts, the company expanded to include live streaming operations, providing a commercial platform for creators. Its aim is to revolutionise and integrate resources related to performances, with the vision of “One party proposes, both parties are protected, and multiple parties benefit”. The goal is to offer new avenues for artists to create, freeing them from reliance on grants, literary awards and other traditional opportunities.

Dance with Dementia:
Creator/ Actress – Huen Sze Man, Suzanne
Stage Manager – Jason Lee
Lighting Design/ Execution – YuFang Chuang
Technical Coordination – Laura Chen
Producer – Sherry Chen

Check out Dance with Dementia on Instagram.