Seattle Dances' take on Opposing Forces:

Leah Baltus at City Arts on Opposing Forces:

"Most trips to On the Boards begin with a buzzing lobby. But on opening night of choreographer Amy O’Neal’s Opposing Forces last Thursday, the doors to the theatre opened early and the lobby crowd thinned. The action was already inside, where an open B-boy cipher informally welcomed everyone to get down before taking their seats. Pre-shows can have a canned, awkward quality, but this one exuded casual authenticity.

To be at peace. A physical manifestation of grace as an expression of individuality. An outpouring of inner landscape...universal, ephemeral, pure, and personalized. No two bodies are the same, no two experiences are identical, no moment a replication of the one that preceded or followed it. An expression outside of gender, politics, history, category, and yet influenced and shaped by all of those things and every cell of the person who in the mode of creation.

Marcie Sillman breaks down Opposing Forces at her arts and culture blog, And Another Thing:

I think I’ve got the address wrong; I don’t know anyone at this party. I look at my invitation, it’s clearly stated that this party is my birthright.

I got a little angry at a friend last night; not uncommon for me in the evening because I get grumpy; suffice it to say the conversation turned to the subject of gender and Amy O’Neal’s piece.

Well, I get real defensive of boys.  I’ve been accused of being defensive of boys in the subject of gender talk because I’m a boy or male privilege or that I’m gay and find men attractive.

I am gay and I find men physically attractive but no that’s not why I’m defensive of boys.

Wow! I accompanied Wade to a dress rehersal for Amy O’s “Opposing Forces” and I’m so glad I did, though I'm rather envious of the lucky folks who will get to see the actual performances this week-end, as I expect they will be nothing short of miraculous. This is just crazy good shit. Elegant restraint is not what I’d expected but damn! If Amy and her amazing dancers haven’t performed some sort of miraculous translation with this incredible bridge project.