Where in the world is hip-hop? Eveoke Dance Theatre, artistic director Gina Angelique and choreographer Anthony Rodriguez would like you to know that it is everywhere.
The new dance piece appropriately titled “Hip Hop Is Everywhere” opened July 21 at the Tenth Avenue Theatre downtown, where it continues through Sunday, Aug. 13.
The premise, which Angelique explained in a pre-curtain speech opening night, is that we spend too much time saying what should not be in the world instead of exploring what is.
In Act 1: Places and Things, Angelique entrusts the exploration to young dance sensation Rodriguez, whose choreography is unfailingly inventive and rife with a humor that matches hers. Rodriguez uses all manner of inanimate things, including flyswatters, roll-on deodorant, diet Coke and a plumber’s helper, to animate the dance, which is fun, funny and frenetic.
In essence, Rodriguez sets hip-hop on world music, demonstrating that beats from Bali, Africa, Israel, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, the South Pacific, China and Ireland can accommodate the moves. The company ” comprising company members Nikki Dunnan, Yvonne Hernandez, Doug Johnson, Erika Malone and Rodriguez, plus guest performers Lara Haine, Becky Hurt, Luiz Quiroz and Bruce Walker ” is energetic, tireless and endlessly fascinating.
“Act 2: People” ” take the little ones home prior to its commencement ” is divided into two parts that explore the darker side of hip-hop as it applies to sex and the sexes. Angelique’s heartrending “Hip Hop Is in Women” is set on words by Ursula Rucker and music by The Roots and Rob Yancey. Women and children are the victims of violence in a world dominated by substance abuse and men, who really take it on the proverbial chin in Rodriguez’s “Hip-hop Is in Men,” set on Saul Williams’ “Black Stacey,” “PG,” and “Control Freak,” which exemplifies the kind of violence that can come from a society obsessed with sex and drugs and caught up as a result in violence and domination.
There is no doubt whatsoever that the company, clad in black with hooded jackets and led by Rodriguez and Walker, represent insatiable male sex organs. It is a powerful indictment of power gone mad, up close and personal, almost too graphic to watch, like looking through a dark glass into an orgiastic world gone mad. In short, it is stupefying and extremely brave.
Rodriguez was discovered in a City Moves class some years ago. He was offered a scholarship to a dance company of his choice, and he chose Eveoke because he’d seen the choreography of Ericka Moore, who is now an Eveoke teaching artist, along with Hernandez, Johnson and Rodriguez.
The message is clear: Eveoke, now in its 12th year downtown, has important social and artistic impact. They tell it unflinchingly.
“Hip Hop Is Everywhere” continues at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, through Aug. 13.
The Tenth Avenue Theatre, 930 10th Ave, is located between Broadway and E. Sunday matinees are Kids’ Shows, Act 1 only. Tickets $15-$20, pay-what-you-can Thursdays and Sundays.
For more information visit www.eveoke.org or call (619) 238-1153.
