Meet Eve Levi: Dance and Writing Student (Arizona State University)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eve Levi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eve, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Any new situation is a risk, and I am constantly consumed by the desire to put myself in an unfamiliar setting. In other words, I am a tad obsessed with having as many contradicting experiences as I possibly can. It is the contradictions that challenge my worldview and force me to question the things I have assumed (whether consciously or unconsciously) to be true. Embracing the unfamiliar is probably one of the riskiest aspects of who I am, as I never really know how things are going to work out. Whether living on a remote island in Alaska, or deciding to take a part time job at my local Rape Crisis Center, each experience will expose me to a way of life, issue, and/or group of people that I have never experienced before, and that interaction is not always going to be 100 percent positive, but it will leave me with a refreshed sense of purpose and self confidence. Whether or not these experiences are in direct relation to dance, the unknown reaffirms my artistic work because it reminds me of both the world’s unity and its vast nature. It revives the awareness within me of knowing that I don’t know. There are an infinite number ways to exist on Earth, and the realities people live in vary significantly depending on where you are and who you talk to. The inspiration comes not only in the mystery and wonder of how infinite we can be, but also in learning that despite all our differences, people tend to be striving for the same things, and I see art as a reflection and confirmation of a humanity, and curiosity about humanity, that we all share.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been dancing for as long as I can remember. It has always been a part of my life and the capabilities I see in dance and what it means to me has grown and transformed overtime. I was lucky enough that the studio I grew up dancing at was encouraging of individual artistic expression. I had opportunities to choreograph my own work and perform it from a very young age, leading me to fall deeply in love with the creative potential dance holds. It is this love that drove me to pursue a professional career in dance. Upon arriving at college, my ideas of what dance could be and the different ways I could have a career in the arts were greatly expanded. I began to see the all-encompassing nature of dance and art, and how it can intersect with nearly any field or area of life. In light of recent events, I am currently in the middle of taking a year off of college. I have been traveling the country in my van volunteering my time at different artistic and sustainable communities, as well as working on a variety of organic farms. This has been the first time in my life when I have not been participating in regular formal dance training, and it has forced me to think about how my artistic training extends beyond a dance studio. I have realized that there is art in every part of our lives. How we talk to people, how we show up, the values we choose to hold, how all of this changes as we learn more–our life is our greatest work of art. This makes us all artists in our own right, and when we shift our mindset and think of ourselves in this way, we can cultivate a greater love and respect for our individuality, and in turn a greater love and respect for the individuality of those around us. My dance training is not just steps toward a career, but steps towards becoming a person who is leaving a positive impact on the world. I want to make art something that is accessible to everyone everywhere. I do not revel at the idea of being a famous dancer, but at the idea of using my knowledge of the arts to make my community a more loving and expressive environment. Some questions I am constantly asking myself include: How can the arts (dance in particular) become a part of people’s everyday even if they don’t live in cities where there is a high concentration of the arts (NYC, LA, San Fran, etc…)? How can the arts help solve or spread awareness of the big problems that the world is facing today? How can the arts help communicate a common humanity we all share?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love that Phoenix is close to so many beautiful mountains and hiking! Hiking Camelback is obviously a must, but I also love some of the hikes near Fountain Hills. Food is easy. We would go to Chopshop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my dog Ribsy. He passed away recently, but what he taught me helped me to grow both as an artist and person. We have so much we can learn from animals. Dogs in particular are masters at living in the present and finding joy in everyday life. I find when I focus on these two areas, I have a greater sense of inner peace and am better able to create honesty in my work and vulnerability in my relationships.

Instagram: evelevidance

Image Credits
Photo #1 (black and white): Tyler Hooten