Dancing & Music Spectacular: Opposing Forces at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts

We attended as a guest of the SCFTA

Photo by Gabriel Bienczyck

When you reach the intersection of hip hop, modern and contemporary, you find the choreography of Amy O’ Neal. Opposing Forces, a performance exploring gender roles, is part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Off Center Festival.

World class B-Boy dancers, Alfredo Vergara (aka “Free”), Brysen “Just Be” Angeles, “Fever One”, Michael O’Neal, Jr. and Mozes Lateef exuded athleticism and emotion. Always powerful, they knew when to push and when to hold back with each piece. The movement was strong and expressive, even when they were exploring the “soft” side of the hip-hop world.

Photo by Steve Korn

Ms. O’Neal’s choreography was a blend of styles, with each piece conveying a message about the masculine and feminine roles through the lens of hip hop. At times upbeat, and other times dark, the performance explored the evolution of hip hop from its beginnings to the commercialism we see today. This hybrid exploration was always entertaining and thought provoking.

The eclectic music by Waylon Dungan, aka WD4D, set the stage from the moment we walked into the Judy Morr Theater to the moment we left. From heavy beats, to futuristic sounds, to voices as music it was always interesting and purposeful.

Opposing Forces will be playing on Saturday, January 31 at 7:30pm in the Judy Morr Theater.

Opposing Forces is approximately 65 minutes long with no intermission. Please note that this performance utilizes music which may not be appropriate for children.

An Orange County mother of four, Tonya Goodbrand, loves exploring the world and sharing it with her family. She has a passion for travel which is quite contagious. Tonya hopes to inspire families to venture out of their comfort zone and see the world through their children’s eyes.