Originally from Windsor Ontario, ﻿Gina Lori Riley﻿ received her B.Sc. in Dance-Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, her B.Ed. from the University of Windsor and her M.F.A. with movement specialization from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has studied and trained with major dance artists in England, the United States, and Canada. She founded Gina Lori Riley Dance Enterprises in 1979, an award-winning professional dance company, where she acts as producer, writer, director, and choreographer of original creative projects in movement, dance, and physical theatre.
The recipient of numerous awards and grants, Gina has professionally directed and choreographed over fifty major original productions. She has organized and implemented tours across Canada and parts of the United States including an unprecedented six week tour of the Arctic's Keewatin and Baffin Regions. She has been commissioned by Canadian professional artists and organizations and has designed and executed dance and movement programs for teachers, students, and professionals in all levels of education and training. Her film project Commedia Fantasia, won the Gold Remi Award at Worldfest Houston and was screened at the New York, Tahoe, and Monaco Film and Video Festivals, to name a few. Her large scale creation, Vox Animae (2004 and 2007) played to sold out audiences.
Gina has been guest artist-in-residence across Canada and parts of the U.S. and has been movement coach and choreographer for numerous stage productions. She has also been creative director and movement designer for several special gala fundraising projects. Gina remains active as an arts advocate and activist. She is an Associate Professor in the B.F.A. in Acting Program of the School of Dramatic Art at the University of Windsor. Her creative process continues to question and explore movement as a dramatic vehicle for expression and communication in cross-disciplinary explorations.