Meet Dominic Moore-dunson

We recently connected with Dominic Moore-dunson and have shared our conversation below.

Dominic, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

Creativity is like a living, breathing thing—it evolves with you as you live your life. For me, it’s so deeply tied to family, identity, and legacy. One of the most defining moments of this connection came in February 2023. My wife and I took our toddlers—who were three and two at the time—to the library, like we did every Thursday. The kids were playing in the children’s section, and I was starting to get restless. So, I wandered over to look for books to take home. That’s when I saw this shelf labeled Children’s Books About Difficult Topics. If you know me, you know that’s my lane. I pulled out this book with colorful balloons on the cover called The Remember Balloons.

The story follows James, a little bi-racial boy who keeps his memories in balloons, and his Black grandfather, who has even more balloons because of his age. They share stories and have this special memory stored in a silver balloon. But as the story goes on, James notices his grandpa is losing his balloons—losing his memories. James tries to catch them, but he can’t stop it. When grandpa loses the silver balloon, James feels the weight of being forgotten by someone he loves. Then he realizes that because grandpa shared his stories, James now holds all of those balloons.

I sat there in the children’s section bawling. I gave the book to my wife, and she started crying too. We packed up the kids, went home, and spent the rest of the evening talking about Alzheimer’s, dementia, and the stories we carry. My wife even shared, for the first time, how it felt the day her grandmother didn’t recognize her anymore. That night, I was so moved that I emailed the author, Jessie Oliveros, at 2:30 a.m., thanking her for the story and asking if she’d ever consider letting me adapt it into a stage show. Fast forward, and now The Remember Balloons is a full production heading out on its first national tour.

The show blends dance, storytelling, and live music to create a vivid, emotional experience. The choreography is deeply physical and layered with storytelling—at times tender and introspective, at other times full of energy and joy. It’s contemporary dance with elements of improvisation, paired with projections that bring the colorful world of the balloons to life. The music, composed by Theron Brown, is this rich mix of jazz and blues, blending live instrumentation with pre-recorded elements to deepen the emotional resonance of the story. Together, the movement and music weave a sensory experience that’s as much about memory as it is about family and connection.

This project is so much more than just another piece of art for me—it’s an embodiment of what keeps me going, of what fuels my passion. As a Black man, storytelling isn’t just something I do; it’s woven into the very fabric of who I am. It’s how my ancestors survived, how they built communities despite systems designed to keep them apart. It’s how they passed down wisdom and resilience in the face of oppression. For me, creativity has always been a vessel for carrying those stories forward, honoring the voices that came before me, and imagining new possibilities for what’s to come.

But here’s where it gets complicated: storytelling, especially in the context of Blackness, isn’t just about telling a happy tale or sharing a memory—it’s about facing the pain, the trauma, and the deep-seated realities that come with being Black in America. It’s about digging into the depths of history, acknowledging what’s been lost, and still choosing to move forward. That’s where art becomes more than a creative endeavor—it becomes an act of survival. Every time I step on stage, I am not just performing; I am continuing a legacy. I am showing my community that we are still here, that we can still create, that we are still worthy of our stories being heard.

Creativity isn’t something you can just wait for. It’s not a muse that just shows up when you’re ready. No, creativity is alive—it’s shaped by how you live, who you love, what you’ve been through, and what you hope for. I’ve learned over the years that the more I center my life on the things that truly matter—my family, my identity, the legacy I want to leave behind—the more my creativity flows naturally. It’s not something I can force, but it’s always there, waiting to be shaped by the people I’m surrounded by and the moments I’m living.

The process of creating, especially when it’s tied to a community, is what keeps my spirit alive. When I work with others, especially in underrepresented communities, I see how the stories we tell have the power to change perspectives, to heal, and to connect us in ways that transcend boundaries. It’s not about me putting my art out into the world; it’s about what happens when those stories hit someone else, when they see themselves reflected in the work and feel that connection.

And honestly, that’s what keeps me showing up every day—this belief that the work I do matters, that it has a purpose, and that it’s not just about me. When I think about all the people who’ve supported me—my family, my community, and my audience—it’s not just their applause that fuels me. It’s the way their stories blend with mine, how our shared experiences amplify the work. It’s this powerful dance between the personal and the universal that keeps me inspired and pushes me to keep creating. When I center my life on the things that matter most—my identity, my family, and the legacy I’m building—I can’t help but feel that the creativity is constantly flowing, like an ever-present current waiting for the right moment to be expressed. That’s what makes all of this worth it.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

In addition to The Remember Balloons’ ongoing national tour, we’re excited to share that we’re working on an expanded version of the show that will feature a new character and a more immersive experience for audiences. This new version of the show will bring even more depth to the story, exploring the themes of family, memory, and loss from a new perspective. By adding this new character, we’re hoping to offer an additional layer of connection and complexity to the narrative, allowing for a more expansive and resonant experience.

One of the most exciting changes is that we’ll be performing the show with 15 live musicians, which will add a richer, more dynamic layer to the already powerful music composed by Theron Brown. The live music will enhance the emotional resonance of the story, creating a deeper connection between the audience and the performers. With this extended version of the show, we’re also expanding the choreography, offering even more movement and interaction between the dancers and musicians.

This updated version of The Remember Balloons will be performed in Akron, OH to kick off the 10th anniversary of the Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival! We’re really looking forward to seeing how this new version of the show will affect audiences and bring even more life to the story. It’s a thrilling next chapter for the project, and I’m incredibly excited for everyone to experience it.

As I mentioned before, The Remember Balloons is also moving forward with its first national tour, which is an amazing milestone for this project. Alongside the expansion of the show, I’ll be launching a YouTube channel in February (you can look me up and follow now!) where I’ll vlog my experiences as an artist creating stories for families. Through this channel, I plan to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, share insights about my work, and dive deeper into my journey as a choreographer and producer. It’s a way to keep the conversation about family, legacy, and the importance of storytelling alive and engage with my audience in a more personal and direct way.

Through this combination of expanding the show, engaging with audiences through social media, and continuing to work with families across the country, I’m excited about the future of this project and the growth of my creative work as a whole.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey, there are three qualities or areas of knowledge that have played a significant role in shaping who I am today as a choreographer, producer, and artist: resilience, community building, and the deep understanding of the power of storytelling.

Resilience: As an artist, I’ve faced many challenges—physical setbacks, creative doubts, and moments of uncertainty. Through it all, resilience has been my anchor. It’s about accepting failure as part of the process and learning from it. In dance and in life, things don’t always go as planned. But learning how to get back up, how to keep going even when the path forward isn’t clear—that’s key. My advice for those early in their journey is to develop a mindset that views challenges as opportunities for growth. Don’t be afraid to stumble or fall; it’s part of the process of becoming who you’re meant to be.
Community Building: One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is creating art that connects people—whether it’s through the intimate conversations I have with my team or the deeper emotional bonds I create with my audiences. I’ve always believed that my work is a reflection of the communities I come from and the people who support me. In my creative process, collaboration is everything. It’s not just about building a show; it’s about building a community. I’d advise emerging artists to surround themselves with like-minded people who uplift and challenge them. Find your tribe, whether that’s through fellow artists, mentors, or supporters, and never underestimate the importance of nurturing those relationships.

Storytelling: Storytelling has always been at the heart of what I do. Whether it’s through dance, music, or words, the ability to communicate deep, personal stories is a powerful tool. In my work, particularly in The Remember Balloons, storytelling bridges the gap between generations and creates a lasting impact. For early-career artists, I would emphasize the importance of honing your ability to tell stories—stories that are meaningful to you, that reflect your experiences, and that speak to universal truths. The more authentic and vulnerable you are in your storytelling, the more it will resonate with others.

To develop resilience, community building, and storytelling skills, my advice is to stay curious and find people who will let you experiment in the process of growth. Curiosity is essential because it pushes you beyond the limits of what you already know and challenges you to explore new perspectives, methods, and techniques. In the creative process, this means asking questions and seeking opportunities to learn from a variety of sources—whether it’s from a different art form, a new culture, or even a failure. Staying curious allows you to grow into new and unexpected areas that can shape your work in ways you never imagined.

Equally important is finding a community or network of people who will support your experimentation. Not everyone will understand your creative journey, but the right group will give you the space to fail, iterate, and explore without judgment. These individuals, whether fellow artists, mentors, or collaborators, will be the ones who challenge your thinking and help you refine your craft. It’s about creating a safe space to fail and try again, knowing that you have people who will stand by you as you grow and evolve.

For early-career artists, this means finding environments that encourage creative risk-taking. Look for spaces where your creativity is nurtured rather than limited. Look for people who can give you honest feedback, but also let you explore the edges of your work without restricting you. Experimentation is key—sometimes the best ideas come from moments of play, and those moments are often cultivated in communities where collaboration and experimentation are valued.

Ultimately, the combination of staying curious and surrounding yourself with the right people can help you build the resilience to keep going, even when faced with challenges. It’s not just about having the right skills; it’s about having the courage to experiment, grow, and continue pushing boundaries, which is where the real magic of creativity happens.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

In the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth has been learning how to balance the artistic vision with the realities of producing at a larger scale. Before 2024, I would have described myself purely as an artist. My focus was always on choreography, dance, and community engagement. But with The Remember Balloons project, my vision expanded in ways I had never anticipated. I found myself stepping into a role that was much more than creating art—I had to become a producer, too.

Co-producing The Remember Balloons with my wife and raising almost $250,000 in eight months was an incredible feat, but it also pushed me in ways I wasn’t prepared for. There’s a dance you go through when you’re trying to build something bigger than you’ve ever done before. On one side, you feel crazy for even thinking it’s possible, yet on the other side, you hold onto that hope that it will somehow come together. It’s this tension that fuels you to keep moving forward, but it’s exhausting. The process has also shown me the importance of ensuring that my family’s needs come before the art. We raised an impressive amount of money, but the emotional and financial strain it put on my family was difficult. The reality is, we didn’t even get a significant portion of those funds, and I had to work nearly full-time to secure the funding—without any compensation—while simultaneously creating the show.

Looking back, I now know that before I reach for something big again, I must ensure we have a strong financial anchor to weather those challenges. It’s like a kite that only flies because someone is holding it steady enough so it can soar. I can still dream big, but I now understand the importance of having a firm foundation in place to support those dreams, so I don’t burn out in the process.

This experience has taught me that patience is key. Not in the conventional sense, but in the way the Hebrew meaning of patience translates to “long suffering.” If you are truly committed to making something happen, you must be prepared to endure periods of struggle to reach your goal. But in the end, you’ll discover that patience doesn’t mean passive waiting—it’s an active, relentless drive to keep believing in your vision. The process is grueling, but as the famous Adidas ad says, “impossible is nothing.” It’s about consistency and believing that your dream is real and achievable, no matter how challenging the journey may be.

This has been a humbling, growth-filled year, and while I’ve learned much about patience and the complexity of production, it’s also made me more confident in my vision and my ability to bring that vision to life, no matter the obstacles.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dommooredun.com
• Instagram: @dmooredun
• Youtube: Dominic Moore-Dunson
• Other: email: dommooredun@gmail.com

Image Credits

Headshot: Michael Cannon
Photos of Show: Shayne Wynne