Is there a way to allow transition animation?

[BeckhamL]

I'm trying to achieve something like this where the div expands from the center to left and right: http://jsfiddle.net/SNzgs/1/.

I am currently using
velocity(el, { scale: [1, 0], opacity: [ 1, "easeInSine", 0 ]}, { duration: 800, }) but it doesn't give me the desired effect.