To Go Again

“Joe Goode has done a lot of work with veterans. He interviews them about the various facets of military life, the challenges of reintegrating into society, the community, and then brings their words into his pieces. It's a very cool and unique long-term project.

I came into this piece with the process well underway and a lot of material already generated, so I mostly was filling gaps and creating underscores. I remember one of the pieces had the sound of banging on the dumpsters, which I thought was super cool.

I think it was my first time working with AXIS, and I really enjoyed their sense of humor and community. Working with AXIS is super inspiring. I learned a lot and I will always be grateful for this experience.”

“Joe chose composer Ben Juodvalkis, whose mother is a nurse at a Veterans Hospital; so he was thrilled to be involved.”

“Even though it's about veterans and their families, to go again is primarily about the tribulations and triumphs and sufferings and dreams of people.”

“The dancers speak and sing the lines with vulnerability and candor.”

“to go again... is about being resilient in the face of really catastrophic circumstances.”

“Jack Carpenter's lighting design is heavy dark, the original score by Ben Juodvalkis is grating. I began to feel suffocated and wanted out of there. The effect is transformative.”

“AXIS Dance Company joins forces with beloved SF-based choreographer Joe Goode and composer Ben Juodvalkis to create a new work, to go again.”

“The dancers and I interviewed several veterans and family members who generously shared their stories. The words you hear in to go again are their words.”

“The headlining work of the Oakland-based troupe's current tour, to go again by Joe Goode, explores the experiences of combat-injured veterans and their families.”

“The work with veterans includes performances of “to go again,” a gripping piece choreographed by Goode last year that weaves together dance and oral narratives of life as a wounded veteran.”