Founded in 2005, the Los Angeles based L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC) launched the beginning of its 20th season with a showing of seven of the eleven films that the company has created since 2015. Co-founder Kate Hutter Mason called it a celebration of the achievements of the company’s choreographers, dancers, lighting designer, costume designers, crew, managers, press agents, and others who have contributed their talents to lift the company up to its present status.
There were two showings on May 9, 2025 at Stomping Ground L.A.; one at 2:30 pm and another at 7:30pm which is the one I attended. There was a fire engine red rotary phone sitting atop a small table covered with a black cloth that was impossible to ignore, and which whet my curiosity throughout the evening. We all had to wait until the final film to quench that interest.
After an opening speech by the current Artistic Director Jamila Glass during which she explained that the films would be shown in two blocks with a Q&A including members of the films’ creative team in between each segment. Block One featured works choreographed, directed and filmed by members of LACDC’s creative team. As the lights dimmed, everyone settled back to enjoy the films, only two of which I had seen before.
LACDC – “Phase” choreography by Kate Hutter Mason – Photo still by Nathan Kim.
Phrase was choreographed by Kate Hutter Mason, the LACDC Artistic Director from 2005-2015. Presented in black and white and shot at locations throughout east LA, this was a celebration of the company’s first 10 years and a beautiful homage “dedicated to the hundreds of incredible artists, donors, supporters, and fans who brought LACDC on its journey and made the dream a reality.” It was wonderful to see some of the original members of LACDC performing.
Collaborators on Phrase: L.A. Contemporary Dance Company in a short film by Freedom 2K Films and Humanshapes Production. Director & Editor: Ben Shearn; Cinematography: Nathan Kim; Producer: Amanda Kramer; Costumer: Jillian Cainghug; Music, Mixer & Colorist: Eric Mason; Compositions by Arvo Part, Eric Mason with Garrett McLean, This Will Destroy You
The performers included: Kate Andrews, Christian Beasley, Hyosun Choi, Genevieve Carson, Jamila Glass, Nicholas Heitzeberg, Tess Hewlett, Marisa Jimenez, Marcello de sa Martins, Gakenia Muigai, Andrew Pearson, JM Rodriguez, Melissa Schade, Drea Sobke, Sydney Sorenson, Tiffany Sweat, Kim Thompson & Angel Tyson
LACDC – “Blink” choreographed by Genevieve Carson – Photo still by Nathan Kim.
BLINK (2019) directed and choreographed by Genevieve Carson (LACDC Artistic Director 2016-2020) was a haunting film shot in one continuous shot. The program notes state “A woman blindly grasps to find her way while on a journey through darkness. BLINK uses the language of dance to ponder the most universal of voyages. The human experience, while molded by connections with others, is ultimately a solitary endeavor. We enter into existence alone and we depart alone, but it’s the messy, beautiful chaos of the in-between that defines us.” It opens and closes with a single woman, Hyosun Choi, and the act of the camera circling the performers, one viscerally feels the human turmoil.
BLINK was choreography in collaboration with the Dancers: Christian Beasley, Hyosun Choi, Kate Coleman, Tess Hewlett, Ryan Ruiz, Drea Sobke & Tiffany Sweat
LACDC – “Lost Mind” choreography by Sara Silkin – Photo still by Youthana Yuos.
LOST MIND (2020) was an incredibly somber narrative film directed, written and choreographed by Sara Silkin. It is about the ongoing mental illness of Silkin’s father. Two very surreal figures, each headless and dressed in all black continue to cross paths only to be lost to one another again and again. These two almost cause one to laugh, but the choreography prevents the viewer from going there.
Performances were by Hyosun Choi and JM. Rodriguez with narration by Lori Dorfman.
One of the favorites was SUMMON (2021) choreographed by Genevieve Carson and directed, written and edited by Jamila Glass. The film was rich in color, emotions and intrigue. Shot in the property adjacent to Stomping Ground L.A. referred to as “Gray Gardens” the site offers a sanctuary for women to be who and do what they wish. The Cinematography by Nathan Kim was stunning as was the score by Oscar & Emmy award-winning and Grammy-nominated Kris Bowers.
The performers in SUMMON included Hyosun Choi, Kate Coleman, Shauna Davis, Nicole Hagen, Kenzie McClure, Drea Sobke, Carissa Songhorian, Tiffany Sweat, Gigi Todisco, and Angel Tyson.
Block Two included films choreographed by artists in residence who created works for LACDC.
LACDC – “Insectos: arte y vida” choreography by Elías Aguirre – Photo still by Noah Jaxson Griffin.
INSECTOS: arte y vida (2022) was a tedious but infectious film choreographed by Spain’s , dancer, photographer, and visual artist Elías Aguirre with choreography based on his production of “Insecto Primitivo.” The program states that the film “explores a constant search for harmony between the heartbreaking and the subtle beauty of what happens on the tiny, improvised stages of invisible nature.” Aguirre was in residence at LACDC in December 2021. It was commissioned by the Embassy of Spain’s Cultural Office through its arts program, SPAIN Dances. This dance film was produced, directed, and edited by Jamila Glass, featuring the music of Jorge da Rocha (Spain).
Performances by Christian Beasley, Hyosun Choi, Kate Coleman, Jamila Glass, Nicole Hagen, Colleen Hendricks, Tess Hewlett, Marlon Pelayo, JM Rodriguez, Ryan Ruiz
LACDC – “Everything Happens Here” choreography by Iker Karrera – Photo still by John W. Rutland.
Everything Happens Here (2023) was another favorite of the evening, I think because it is a documentary showing the creative process that takes place in the studio between the choreographer and the dancers. Spanish choreographer Iker Karrera was commissioned by the Embassy of Spain’s Cultural Office to create an original work on LACDC in just seven days. One sees how the trust was built between the choreographer and the dancers to create an exciting work. The film was directed by Andrew Southam with original music by Alex Aller.
Cast of Everything Happens Here: Edgar Aguirre, Hyosun Choi, Kate Coleman, Nicole Hagen, Colleen Hendricks, JM. Rodriguez, Ryan Ruiz, Hunter Wayne
LACDC – “Echoes” choreography by Idoia Rodríguez – Photo still by Anna Tse.
The last film of the evening was a double treat and resolved the curiosity as to why that red phone was sitting downstage right. ECHOES (2024) was an emotional work choreographed by Spain’s dancer and choreographer Idoia Rodríguez in partnership with SPAIN Dances from the Embassy of Spain’s Cultural Office. The double treat was that we got to watch the dance performed live simultaneously with the film directed by Jamila Glass. As a performer, this brought to light that every performance of a dance is different as the film and the real-time were almost in sync but different. Different timings, different emotions from the performers and different angles depending on where one was seated in the audience. Adjectives that I felt were presented to describe those emotions were pain, agony, rejection, uncertainty and hysteria.
The composer for ECHOS was José Venditti and the performers were Colleen Loverde, Lily Massie, Kelle Meschede, Melody Morrow, and Dawson Walker.
The list of artists that contributed to these seven films is too long to be named in this article. But you can see most of the films for the small fee of $5 to $7 for a 48 hour rental, although several are free, by visiting LACDC’s website, clicking on Special Projects and then selecting a film of your choice. I highly recommend that you do.
For more information about L.A. Contemporary Dance Company, please visit their website.
To learn more about Stomping Ground L.A., please visit their website.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: LADC – “Summon” choreography by Genevieve Carson – Photo still by Genevieve Carson.
