One Good Quote: “Go Big or Go Home” with Aiano Nakagawa and Heth Stockton

June 23, 2022

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In Fall 2017, Life as a Modern Dancer launched a new concept for post-performance discussion and writing. The goals are multi-fold:

What are new ways to invite post-performance writing (since so few publications now print dance reviews, and there are fewer and fewer dance critics in the United States)?
How can choreographers hear and read more from audience members about their impressions and experiences of dance events?
Can we offer new mechanisms for choreographers to gather language about their work, to further their work and to promote their work?

The premise is simple. If you experienced the dance film "Go Big or Go Home" with Aiano Nakagawa and Heth Stockton, June 10-11, 2022 as a part of the Queering Dance Festival, please take a few minutes to leave a comment. Write down images, impressions, appreciations, and questions from the performance. These can be words, phrases, or a few sentences.

We thank you for your time, support, and thoughtfulness. Here's to more dialogue, more reflection, and more writing on the dance performance experience. As choreographer Mariah Steele noted, we are "democratizing dance criticism."

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5 responses to “One Good Quote: “Go Big or Go Home” with Aiano Nakagawa and Heth Stockton”

Garth Grimball

Jun 27, 2022 at 12:07 pm

“Go Big or Go Home” is a joy filled adventure into friendship, acceptance, and dance. I can’t remember ever laughing so much watching a dance film. The thought and care put into every detail lingers in my mind and makes me want a sequel.

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Geneva Star Jonick

Jun 28, 2022 at 1:27 pm

Go big or go home blew me away! I was honored to see some of its process and creation, and to see how it came together made me laugh out loud, made me cry, churned my stomach and squeezed my heart!! I loved it, and am so proud of Heth and Aiano.

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Zackary Forcum

Jun 28, 2022 at 4:19 pm

As a queer dance artist who has never fit into the skinny category I felt a lot of sadness, joy, and reciprocity when watching “Go Big or Go Home”. In a time where the world is still dealing so deeply with the pandemic and moving forward feels incredibly difficult, I loved the journey to meet the artists “Higher” selves and that in able to move forward they visited such intimates moments of their past. I am grateful for such personal-sharing done on such a large scale. The ending climatic moment was honestly how I see Aiano and Heth: larger than life, living vivaciously and inviting everyone to take part in the big show. Bravo!

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Jill Randall

Jul 23, 2022 at 7:26 am

I have been thinking about your awesome film this week. Memories, humor, pain, delight, power, empowerment. Thank you for going big with this project and story! I hope to watch it again soon!

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Alex M

Aug 31, 2022 at 3:26 pm

This was such a moving film that so beautifully captured and carved space out for fat, queer femme dancer friendship. It was gorgeous, funny, cohesive, entertaining, and plucked all my heart strings. Like a captivating dance performance, this film explored so many levels and textures of feeling–it was nostalgic, relatable, poignant, deeply vulnerable, and so touching. Thank you for bringing this into the world and sharing it with us! <333

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