“Will Uncle Trout be a fossil, or does he have to be a dinosaur first?”

THE SKELETON DANCE is a play for all ages (3+) about death. YAY!

THE SKELETON DANCE is a highly physical, energetic, and light-hearted play with elements of creative movement, clown, and puppetry. It is created and performed by Emma James (they/them) and Ella MacDonald (she/her).

In THE SKELETON DANCE, two young children, Emma and Ella, process the news that their Uncle Trout has suddenly died. They consider the implications of this in an entertaining, irreverent way, where the audience is privy to their many whimsical theories about death.

Despite the subject of death being widely perceived as inherently difficult subject matter, the show is playful, light-hearted, and irreverent. The children in the play do not feel social pressure to discuss death as a somber event, and share their opinions without fear.

The goal is to provoke thought about the ways in which we respond to hardship and comfort one another. The show guides audiences through grief through the lens of a child: all feelings are okay, there are no bad questions, and we must process through connection and play.

The show runs approximately 50 minutes, and is then always followed by a post-show Q&A.

CONTENT NOTICE:

THE SKELETON DANCE is an all-ages show that talks about death.  If talking about death and dying is hard for you, that’s okay! These things can be hard to talk about. We invite you to participate at your own discretion. That could look like taking deep breaths, stepping away for a minute, or even deciding that this show isn’t for you. That’s okay, too!

Click here to read about supporting a young person through grief and loss, and click here to read about how to process and find support if you’re grieving.