Joe Goode Performance Group

Came here to watch an interpretative dance performance by Sherwood Chen choreographed by Sara Shelton Mann titled:
The Eye of Leo — A Future Life/​23kg — New solo Series
The solo performance lasted about 45 minutes and it was very engaging with the light, sound, and movement which reminded one of an installation art piece. Serene at times and intense at others.
The entrance to Joe Goode can be a bit confusing and is gated so visitors are press the intercom to be let in. Good thing there’s a big sign on the top of the building.
Not a very big venue but the studio is nicely kept and has a certain warmth.
Street parking is plentiful in the evening.

This is a review of the performing space at 401 Alabama. The entrance is a gate about 50 feet from the intersection. Go through the gate and on the left is a small parking lot and vegetation/​nursery school playground. On the right is the brick building where the performing space is located.
After you go through the foyer, you emerge into a two or three story space. On the left quadrant was the performing space itself. Directly in front is the audience seating which is arranged in a quarter circle around the performance space. For the performance I saw, the first row was gymnastic mats piled up two or three for people to sit more comfortably in the front. Behind the mats were individual chairs and behind that were bar stool chairs. In the middle of the seating area was a metal bleacher about four rows high, so if you have a portable sports seat that attaches to metal bleachers, this could be your time to use it.
Immediately to your right as you come out of the foyer is a room that has «balcony» seating for about a half dozen on top of the room.
It’s not a large place, but they do their best to accomodate you. They even sold snacks, beer and wine, plus CD’s and t-​shirts as well. Gets kinda hot during the performance, so you’re thankful for the intermission where they open the door to let fresh air in.
It’s a light industrial and now live/​work space area. Street parking is not plentiful, but is available within a block walk.

You can also find this location using this address:
401 alabama st, san francisco
Anyway, Joe Goode Performance Group is overall good as it gets in terms of dance space. The dance space is as wide as the sky is high. It’s not painfully far from BART either.
Several other features here:
–Free wireless access, useful for online video choreography instruction
–The sound system can connect to your laptop
–Huge dance space
–Extension cord available to extend electronic devices
–Dual heating system in case it’s very cold
–Side and ceiling curtains can be adjusted
–Clean, lighted, and stocked restrooms
One problem is there are no mirrors to see if you do dance moves refined enough. The other issue is the cost a bit steep at $ 25/​hr, compared to other venues. But hey, high cost = high quality as you can see in the aforementioned features.

For my 200^th review, I’m proud to give Joe Goode Performance Group an enthusiastic 5 stars. I find it hard to believe that a local dance group with such prestige is not on Unilocal,so I am humbled and proud to make the first review.
Joe Goode is a choreographer, writer and director who creates innovative performances that incorporate dance, theater, spoken word and song. I have been lucky to see numerous pieces from the company all over the Bay Area. The dance is strong, the sets utilize ingenious props, video or even entire buildings. Each piece makes you feel a flurry of emotions– amazement at the dancer’s strength and talent, laughing at the humor and wit, sadness under the weight of life.
Most recently I attended «Traveling Light» at the old Mint in downtown San Francisco. The actual building was used as part of the performance. Viewers were shuffled from room to room to experience a choreographed web of performances that were no less than genius.
If you ever have the opportunity to see one of these pieces live, you will die happy.