The Recital – He Said, She Said.

The third episode of O.J. Simpson: Fact or Fiction, a weekly episodic series of mini-documentaries which shines a light on widespread misconceptions of various aspects of the O.J. Simpson saga, focuses on Sydney Brooke Simpson’s dance recital on June 12, 1994. Specifically, episode three examines if O.J. Simpson an angry and menacing man in the hours before his wife and her friend were murdered or if he was he relaxed and happy, kissing family members and joking with friends.

O.J. Simpson: Fact or Fiction?

Episode 3: The Recital – He Said, She Said.

On the afternoon of Sunday, June 12, 1994 Sydney Brooke Simpson, daughter of O.J. and Nicole, performed in Dance for Kid’s annual recital at the Paul Revere Middle School in the suburban Brentwood section of Los Angeles. Dance for Kids offers classes in a variety of dance styles for youth aged from kindergarten to high school seniors. The company’s annual recital includes a performance from each class.

Dance For Kids Brentwood OJ Simpson OJSimpson.co — Dance For Kids Brentwood Studio

Paul Revere Middle School Los Angeles OJ Simpson OJSimpson.co — Paul Revere Middle School, Brentwood, Los Angeles.

The 1994 Dance for Kids annual recital, titled “On the Farm,” was Western-themed and included performances from approximately 30 classes. The dance performance by Sydney’s class was slotted near the end of the recital’s program which began at 4:30 pm. The family had to endure nearly 90 minutes of performances by more than 20 dance classes before Sydney and her classmates took the stage, all dressed in bell-bottomed outfits decorated with silver-spangled fringes, and performed their dance which was set to the Kenny Loggins’ song Footloose.

Although little has been said about the dance performances that Sunday, much has been said about the demeanor of O.J. Simpson during the recital.

In February 1995, Nicole Brown Simpson’s sister Denise testified that O.J. Simpson “had a very bizarre look in his eyes. It was a very faraway look.” Ms. Brown said “It was actually really kind of spooky. It was a frightening look. “It just didn’t look like the O. J. that we knew.” She claimed that throughout the recital O.J. Simpson sat in the back in a chair by himself.

OJ Sydney Simpson Recital June 12 1994 OJSimpson.co — O.J. Simpson and Sydney Simpson following her recital on June 12, 1994.

However during the trial a videotape emerged which showed a smiling, friendly O.J. Simpson giving a goodbye kiss to both Denise Brown and her mother Juditha and chatting warmly with his former father-in-law Lou Brown.