VCU Department of Dance featured in public television program on Alzheimer's disease

By Mike Frontiero
VCU School of Education

During a night devoted to programs about Alzheimer's disease, Community Idea Stations WCVE in Richmond and WHTJ in Charlottesville will present a compelling and innovative dance-drama choreographed and performed by Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Dance chair Martha Curtis and music director Robbie Kinter.

"Deconstructed Dialogues" explores the borders between fantasy and reality that challenge the Alzheimer's patient and caregiver. "It portrays the way communication becomes scrambled and even humorous but also continues on a deeper level with an undercurrent of deep fatigue, sadness and love," said Curtis. "It tells a non-linear, multi-dimensional story that gently examines the metaphors that emerge from the deconstruction of language."

Curtis and Bruce Berryhill produced and directed "Deconstructed Dialogues." WCVE, WHJTV and other public television stations across the country will air the 30-minute program on Jan. 21 in conjunction with the PBS special "The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimers."

Curtis and Kinter have performed "Deconstructed Dialogues" live to groups of seniors, Alzheimer's patients, caregivers, hospice workers and psychologists. These showings were followed by discussions with audiences that informed the development of the work. The program has been selected for dance showcases in professional theaters throughout the United States and has received positive critical response.

"Deconstructed Dialogues" was funded in part by VCU's School of the Arts. For details and program times, visit www.ideastations.org/alzheimers.