It began with performance and rounded out with holistic dialogue. Visions & Voices: Kaufman Converge invited guests to get a glimpse into the different styles and techniques of Teresa “Toogie” Barcelo and Rauf “Rubberlegz” Yasit. Infusing a proscenium showcase with educational offerings, USC Kaufman Professor Amy O’Neal facilitated the connection of these two distinct artists through an evening that expanded creative boundaries. 

The convergence of genres

Rauf “Rubberlegz” Yasit steps forward and collapses. Tall and supine, his body suddenly disappears into the floor, twisting and turning into a series of shapes and pathways on its way down — a glimpse into the nuanced techniques of breakdancing.

In this multidisciplinary solo work, Yasit embodies a physicality that is not confined to one dance form. Instead, the solo is a remarkable depiction of the movement languages that have influenced his ability to assume complex and unimaginable body positions. From the precise quality of tutting to the emotive attributes of contemporary dance, Yasit leaves the audience curious by inspiring a new understanding of what it means to surpass conventional techniques.

Moments later, Teresa “Toogie” Barcelo jumps in. Sticking with the theme of artistic originality, she highlights her versatility across multiple disciplines, including popping and various classical techniques. Further emphasizing her expertise in different artistic disciplines, Barcelo shares an original film entitled LOVE that exemplifies her passion for expressing the human experience by inviting joy and freedom into rigorous physicality.  

Such is the nature of Kaufman Converge, the interdisciplinary salon series founded by USC Kaufman professor Amy O’Neal. O’Neal’s vision is to unite artists across disciplines so that they can share their experiences and expertise with audience members. On February 4, Yasit and Barcelo presented the latest iteration of Kaufman Converge in collaboration with USC’s Visions and Voices.

A collaborative duet

The performance segment of the evening began with an improvised duet. Without knowing the soundtrack for their collaborative performance, Yasit and Barcelo spontaneously researched how their individual dance ecologies could work together. The result was an astounding amalgamation of dance united in common expression. Maintaining their individual artistic integrity, Yasit and Barcelo used their contrasting languages to prove that dance can exist across multiple contexts at once. Moreover, they illustrated their ability to actively bend stringent barriers regarding genre labels and technical standards. Using their individuality, they highlighted and sparked new qualities within one another. 

The evening rounded out in a celebration of personal artistic journeys. Through a Q&A session, members of the audience had the opportunity to engage in meaningful inquiry with Yasit and Barcelo. 

To converge across disciplines

For Yasit, developing a personal movement language begins with investing in the foundation of several forms. With fundamental understandings, one can then use their training to inform individual avenues of creativity. Actively choreographing across several dance genres, Yasit highlights the importance of seeing dancers for who they are. He is determined not to impose genres onto dancers but to look to individual talents to inspire the process. While encouraging interdisciplinary exposure, Yasit believes the key to fruitful work is understanding who you are engaging with. He places individual artistic integrity at the forefront of his processes — not attempting to “polish” breakdancers or view contemporary dancers as breakers — but invites cross-disciplinary learning.

Barcelo shares that trust, persistence and passion are at the heart of her artistic journey. Refusing to imitate her surroundings, she prioritizes versatility in nurturing an authentically raw movement language. When asked how her experience of battling has informed her current practice, Barcelo explains that she reshaped her battle experiences to cater to her individuality. Viewing the competition as a battle with herself rather than her opponent, she continued to research her personal style even in high stakes settings. Despite criticism, Barcelo believes she would be doing the world a disservice by not prioritizing her originality. Today, and throughout her artistic pursuits, she continues to be unapologetically herself.  

Expressing gratitude 

This memorable evening would not have been possible without Professor Amy O’Neal. Her dedication to innovation and merging dance cultures has formed the foundation for which Kaufman Converge flourishes. Additionally, USC Kaufman’ss partnership with Visions & Voices has helped the event reach vast audiences while promoting community engagement with the arts. 

We hope you will join us for the next annual Visions & Voices: Kaufman Converge and experience the artistic prowess of creators like Rubberlegz, Toogie, and many more. Stay tuned for details on how you can become involved in the next celebration of dance innovation. Please see the USC Kaufman website for event listings.

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By Rhaine Marquardt (BFA ’25)