Meet Founding Artistic Director Gina Angelique

Artistic Director, Gina Angelique, co-founded Eveoke Dance Theatre in 1994 after studying in the Dance and Theatre departments at UC Irvine. Ms. Angelique has created more than 20 critically acclaimed full-length works since that time, and she has won numerous Awards including the Tariq-Khamisa Gandhi Non-Violence Award, the Multi-Cultural Heritage Award, the Honor My Champion 2000 Award, a KPBS Pâtté Award and three Garland Awards. Gina also founded the Eveoke Education Program, inspired in part by her work with youths in underserved communities at the St. Joseph's Ballet in Santa Ana, CA. Today Eveoke teaches more than 60 classes each week throughout San Diego, bringing dance to hundreds of students of all ages.

Artistic Director's Statement

Bertolt Brecht said "Art is not a mirror to be held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it." Excellent art provides the tools we need to be visionaries who realize our dreams. The very act of artistic creation is in itself political, mainly because it provides power and freedom to all spirits. I cannot think of a more effective, complete way to move plaque stuck in hearts and minds than through artistic creation. Few things are as joyous, as terrifying, as risky and courageous.

Eveoke's work isn't neat and pretty...but rather rides the waves of the same horror and beauty we all face when we truly live our lives. We create work that shoots like an arrow into the belly of complacency and apathy. We create dance that breaks apart the habits of one's eyes, re-asserting the value and beauty of the human body. We use our dance to communicate deeply with our audience...the things no words could ever convey. Our audiences enjoy Eveoke's highest esteem and respect.

I believe cracked open hearts and minds manifest dreams and ideals into grassroots actions. There is nothing quite as transformative to the individual mind, heart and body as dance-- dance born of intellectual curiosity, emotional integrity and vulnerability, and non-violent, physical power.

I have seen dance reach down to the root causes of serious social ills by inspiring people to become vibrant contributors to their communities. I know and live everyday, with children who hold onto dance with their dear lives, adults who re-unite with their sacred bodies once a week in a basic modern class, and seniors who feel 20 years younger just by using their physical imagination again. For others, Eveoke is their lifeline, their glimmer of hope, their megaphone, and often times, it's the best part of their day.

Eveoke Yourself.