When Tiffany “Jimini” Bong, founding executive director and artistic director of UniverSOUL Hip Hop Dance Company, was developing WonderLAnd! with her company, they asked themselves, “What does the community and city of L.A. need right now?” The answer was wonder, and it wiggled its way throughout the immersive cultural celebration at The Ford Amphitheatre on August 17, 2025 as part of its LA Soundscapes Family Concerts series.
“We are intentionally creating a sensory-friendly space for all people to experience wonder again,” Bong stated on Instagram, “to reconnect with their joy with themselves and with each other.”
The concert was billed as best for ages 3-11; however, the skill level and artistry of the dancers were ready-made for all ages. The cast consisted of: Bong as the sparrow, Rebekah “Beks” Denegal as the Leader, Darrel “Friidom” Dunn as the artist and father, Jaylin Sanders as the prodigal son, Mariah Stevens as the spirit, Kirk “Patches” Viloria in the role of the friend and Tai Ryan White as the warrior. Each dancer, and most double as teaching artists with UniverSOUL, brought their own unique movement talents to the production—all hip-hop and most rooted in L.A. culture. On brilliant display were Campbellocking, waving and animation.
UniverSOUL Hip Hop Dance Company – “WonderLAnd” – Photo by Jonathan Jimenez.
Bong greeted the audience pre-show from the stage with a story of her first introduction to hip-hop dance as a 6th grader. She explained that we are all movement makers, and in doing so, she vocalized her company’s mission of cultivating community, intergenerational wellness and wonder through transformative, SOUL-centered dance performance.
It was evident from the first step into the Ford’s entrance that today’s performance aimed to elicit joy and wonder. The LA Soundscapes series features artmaking, dancing and listening with Los Angeles artists; this sunny August afternoon kids could make medallions and visit the Poetry Playground. The program was centered around children, and there were dozens of kids in the seats, yet the actual performance was hypnotically rhythmic and emotionally weighty.
UniverSOUL Hip Hop Dance Company – “WonderLAnd” – Photo by Jonathan Jimenez.
Bong stated that the production was like the dance version of the animated movie “Inside Out,” which stars a child’s emotions as three-dimensional characters. Anger, fear and joy were definitely felt throughout, but it was the movement that drew the loudest reactions—the way the dancers accentuated the beats, fast then slow, their bodies reacting (or not) to each note.
It’s one of the most beautiful characteristics of street dance: how the music dictates the moves, and the dancer embodies sound. Watching the dancers freestyle in formation and in cyphers elicited pure joy. After the show, I heard a mom telling her daughter, “The dance brought me joy and made my heart sing.”
The duo of Sanders and Friidom brought tears, as the two pushed and pulled, wriggling across the stage. As Friidom reached out, grabbing, attempting to console Sanders, he in return shoved and propelled himself backward. It was moving to see two men actively wrestling with grief, pain and acceptance.
UniverSOUL Hip Hop Dance Company – “WonderLAnd” – Photo by Jonathan Jimenez.
In every scene in which he appeared, all eyes gravitated to Sanders, as if he were a movement magnet. Many in the audience may not have known, and certainly the kids did not, that Sanders was a contestant on “So You Think You Can Dance,” season 18. He landed in the Top 6.
Two dance styles in particular were highlighted throughout the afternoon: house and krump. The dancers controlled time and space, leaving the audience hanging on every move. They moved individually and as a collective, demonstrating how dance can cultivate community and joy. Poetic lyrics accompanied a few pieces—always uplifting, with lines like, “Every day I choose life.”
Audience at The Ford watching UniverSOUL Hip Hop Dance Company’s “WonderLAnd” – Photo by Jonathan Jimenez.
These messages may have flown over the kids’ heads, and the movement may have lasted a tad too long to hold their attention. But I applaud the parents who did bring their children to this dance performance, for exposing them to potentially life-altering experiences, like it was for Bong.
These parents get it. As they bopped their heads and tapped their toes, they were sharing and passing down through the generations the joy and community that dance can create. As the afternoon came to a close, Bong instructed the audience to act out the words: peace, love, unity and hope—because that is what our city needs right now.
For more information on UniverSOUL Hip-Hop Dance Company, please visit their website.
To learn more about The Ford, please visit their website.
Written by Jessica Koslow for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured Photo: UniverSOUL Hip Hop Dance Company – “WonderLAnd” – Photo by Jonathan Jimenez.
