Tuesday night, two dancers chased each other across the Kaufman International Dance Center stage, illuminated by a bright white spotlight and an orange side light. Their bodies flowed in a rhythm that felt natural despite its improvisational nature. Interjoining their arms and legs, the audience watched the two move as one. This improvised dance was the headlining performance of Kaufman Converge.

Hosted by Kaufman School of Dance lecturer Amy O’Neal and in partnership with Visions and Voices, Kaufman Converge featured Teresa “Toogie” Barcelo and Rauf “Rubberlegz” Yasit. 

The event began with O’Neal introducing herself and the two dancers who would perform and speak later in the evening. Then, a shadowed figure took to the stage. A blue light spotlighted the figure, revealing Yasit, who proceeded to utilize breakdancing and contemporary movement across the stage.

Daily headlines, sent straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest at and around USC.

Following the rapturous applause to his performance, an orange light shined on the stage. Silence, as Barcelo bent over and crawled her way into the middle of the stage. She slowly and carefully moved each limb with intention. Once she came to a stopping point, Barcelo stood up, and that’s when the music began. Her movement was quick and to the beat. She donned a pair of toe socks that gripped the floor with fury.

Barcelo then showed a short music film titled “Love” (2024) that she directed and choreographed. The music was composed by Barcelo’s partner of ten years, Joe Berry. The film showcased several Los Angeles local dancers moving together sensually, breathing together as a unit with their hands and heads on each other’s backs. The dance came to a crescendo as the dancers held each other and joined their lips, celebrating the diversity and sexuality of the L.A. dance population.

Barcelo and Yatsi dazzled the audience with their connection during their headlining performance. They took opposite sides of the stage, and Yatsi made a slow slither towards Barcelo. When the music stopped, and the house lights came on, Barcelo and Yatsi grabbed each other’s hands and took their bows to a standing ovation from the audience. Cheers and whoops erupted as red couches were brought out behind them for the question and answer to come.  

O’Neal explained how Barcelo had taught classes to Kaufman’s freshmen and sophomore BFA students that morning, while Yasit taught Kaufman’s juniors and seniors. 

“[Students] felt grounded and connected,” O’Neal said. “That solo was such a deep meditation on the way you have found your language and the way you shared … these concepts that were very clear for our students to grab onto and to then meditate on themselves.”

Barcelo led the audience through a deep breathing exercise, discussing an app she created during the coronavirus pandemic called “Toogie” that includes guided meditations, breathing exercises and movement exercises. 

“The goal is to give everyone tools to regulate their nervous systems and feel better,” Barcelo said.

Barcelo talked about her challenges starting out in L.A., describing her process of talking to different studios until she was given the opportunity to share her style with others and encourage young people to develop their own.

“I took a big step back from that and I asked myself, ‘What does this city need that I can provide? What gap is here that I see, that I have the unique skill set to fill?’” Barcelo said. 

Yasit said his home country of Germany is largely unfamiliar with breakdancing as an artform. As he progressed, he created a more abstract breaking style while learning contemporary dance, traveling the world with other dances. 

“In Germany, if you tell someone ‘I’m a breaker,’ they’ll also be like, ‘Oh, do people still dance that style?’” Yasit said. 

In his earlier days of dancing, Yasit posted dance videos to YouTube, and he was able to inspire viewers worldwide. 

Both dancers stressed the importance of community within art and through creation. They both had a start in theater and connected through working on music videos. They stay motivated by feeling gratitude for the ability to do what they love.

“I look at the floor as a partner,” Yasit said. “It’s not conscious for me. It is my body remembering all the languages that I’ve taught it … [I] surrender to … whatever I’m feeling at the moment.”

O’Neal opened questions to the audience, which consisted mostly of Kaufman dance students. They asked questions about patience, careers and motivation. Yasit and Barcelo shared their experiences of struggling with auditions and choreography and how improvisation helps with both motivation and outlooks on life.

“Improvisation is the throughline [between] being able to trust in myself and in my creativity,” Barcelo said. “No matter what room or world I step into, my creativity can shapeshift to accommodate for the needs.”