2019 AIN World Conference at Stony Brook

Across the globe, improvisational play, performance, poetry, music and the arts are
challenging the stigma-inducing "tragedy narrative” of dementia – narratives too often caught up in the
“carer” and “cared for” paradigm. Play – even when it looks serious – can support everyone to develop
and create with the dementias in new and more positive ways.
Play helps challenge the concepts – self, memory, loss, decline, etc – that distort our view of what’s
possible for people, not only with dementia/Alzheimer’s, but anyone who is neuro-diverse. It can also
transform the way that language – ordinary ways we speak with each other (and assume an
understanding)– can get in the way of more intimately and creatively connecting.
In this experiential workshop, we will share tools and experiences from East Side Institute and Living
Words UK. These include improvisational games and performed conversation to exploring the creation of
environments to support everyone involved in the “dementia ensemble” to enjoy the “non-knowing
growing” possible when improvisational play is how we do everything in our lives.
We welcome everyone interested in using diagnosis as a starting point for creativity and who wants to
learn more about improvisation as a tool for navigating the aging or dementia experience.