L.A. Contemporary Dance on Film
May 9, 2025
2:30pm & 7:30pm
Stomping Ground L.A.
Presented by L.A. Contemporary Dance Company
RUNTIME: 74 minutes (plus two 15-minute Q&A sessions)
As part of this season’s 20th anniversary celebration, we’re thrilled to present an exclusive retrospective showcase featuring a curated selection of films created in collaboration with the L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC) over the past decade. These films capture the artistry, movement, and vision that have defined the company and continue to inspire audiences around the world.
Beyond the screenings, you’ll have the opportunity to go behind the scenes with live Q&A and talkbacks featuring members of the films’ creative teams and collaborators, moderated by LACDC’s Artistic Director and independent filmmaker, Jamila Glass.
LACDC Artists
Colleen Loverde, Lily Massie, Kelle Meschede, Melody Morrow, Dawson Walker
CREATIVE TEAM
Artistic Director: Jamila Glass
Executive Director: Napoleon Gladney
Company Manager: Quinn O'Connor
Producer: Quinn O'Connor
Rehearsal Director: Ayesha Orange
Production Manager (SGLA): Felicia St. Cyr
Stage Manager: Quinn O'Connor
Lighting Designer: Kate Hutter Mason
Light Board Operator: Darby Epperson
Front of House: Maggie Franckhauser
SGLA Staff: Leslie Burn, Mandolin Burns, Felicia St. Cyr, Lu Ordman
Media Manager: Danielle King
Community Relations Manager: Jessie Lee Thorne
BLOCK ONE
Phrase (2015)
In celebration of 10 years of creating dance in L.A., this film is dedicated to the hundreds of incredible artists, donors, supporters, and fans who brought LACDC on its journey and made the dream a reality.
Choreographer: Kate Hutter Mason (LACDC Artistic Director 2005-2015)
Collaborators:
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
Performances by: 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
******
BLINK (2019)
A woman blindly grasps to find her way while on a journey through darkness. Filmed in one continuous shot, 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. Captured in a singular, fluid, rotating shot – the dancers’ world materializes and crashes into itself, highlighting the imperfect beauty that exists moment to moment within our unraveling realities. The project was approached with purposeful vulnerability, exploration, and trust, ultimately resulting in a work that lives and breathes with raw, unfiltered authenticity.
Creative Director & Choreographer: Genevieve Carson (LACDC Artistic Director 2016-2020)
Choreography in collaboration with the Dancers:
Christian Beasley, Hyosun Choi, Kate Coleman, Tess Hewlett, Ryan Ruiz, Drea Sobke & Tiffany Sweat
Collaborators:
Producer: L.A. Contemporary Dance Company
Director: Nathan Kim
1st AD: Zack Bass
Costume Designer: Sami Martin Sarmiento
Makeup: Josiah Cracraft
Hair: Lisa-Marie Powell
Composer: Ezio Bosso
Performed by Christian Beasley, Hyosun Choi, Kate Coleman, Tess Hewlett, Ryan Ruiz, Drea Sobke & Tiffany Sweat
******
LOST MIND (2020)
"I’m sorry. It’s okay. I’m so sorry. It’s okay. I wish things didn’t have to be this way..."
LOST MIND is a narrative dance film exploration of the psyche by director, writer, and choreographer Sara Silkin. The film recounts her inability to identify her father's mental illness throughout her life. With her powerful application of surrealist movement imagery, she recreates the emotional physical highs experienced during a manic episode, followed by the endless spirals of depression caused by bipolar disorder.
Director, Writer, Choreographer: Sara Silkin
Collaborators:
Producer: L.A. Contemporary Dance Company
Song: Patrick Watson
Cinematographer: Iain Trimble
AC: Joe Ashi
Editor: Kevin Tadge
Colorist: New Gate Films
Costumes: Kelsey Vidic
Poster: Youthana Yuos
Performances by Hyosun Choi & JM. Rodriguez
Narrator: Lori Dorfman
Filmed in 2020 as a part of LACDC's Fall Commissions
******
SUMMON (2021)
Grey Gardens is a haven where women come to feel free and to feel safe. Take a load off. Commune. Exhale. Laugh. Be seen. Be weird. Absorb love. Armed with the knowledge that they can always return here. This space was carved for them. SUMMON is written, directed, and edited by filmmaker & LACDC’s artistic director Jamila Glass, choreographed by former artistic director Genevieve Carson, captured by prolific cinematographer Nathan Kim, scored by Oscar & Emmy award-winning and Grammy-nominated Kris Bowers, and features a cast of phenomenal women from LACDC and the LA dance community.
Choreographer: Genevieve Carson (LACDC Artistic Director 2016-2020)
Collaborators:
Producer: L.A. Contemporary Dance Company
Director, Writer, Editor: Jamila Glass (LACDC Artistic Director 2021-Present)
Composer: Kris Bowers
Cinematographer: Nathan Kim
Production Designers: Genevieve Carson & Jamila Glass
Costume Designer: Sami Martin Sarmiento
Makeup: Josiah Cracraft
Hair: Lisa-Marie Powell
1st AC: Zed Dally
2nd AC: Ashley Langley
Key Set Costumer: Yuki Nishida
Set Costumer: Sami Martin Sarmiento
Still Photographer: Rob Amjärv
Performed by Hyosun Choi, Kate Coleman, Shauna Davis, Nicole Hagen, Kenzie McClure, Drea Sobke, Carissa Songhorian, Tiffany Sweat, Gigi Todisco, & Angel Tyson
Filmed in 2019 at Stomping Ground L.A. (Grey Gardens)
BLOCK TWO
INSECTOS: arte y vida (2022)
Insects have a life comparable to a dance: short, ephemeral and intense. This 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.
In December 2021, the company had the wonderful privilege of hosting a dance and film residency with choreographer, dancer, photographer, and visual artist Elías Aguirre to develop new work. The work was commissioned by the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain through its arts program, SPAIN Dances, which aims at fostering artistic dialogue between Spanish and American dancers and choreographers, and serving as an incubator for new or in-process work. This week-long residency concluded with a dance film directed by LACDC’s artistic director Jamila Glass, featuring the music of Jorge da Rocha (Spain).
Choreographer: Elías Aguirre | Choreography based on the Elías Aguirre production of "Insecto Primitivo”
Collaborators:
L.A. Contemporary Dance Company in partnership with SPAIN Dances from the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain
Producer, Director, Editor: Jamila Glass (LACDC Artistic Director 2021-Present)
Composer: Jorge da Rocha
Cinematographer: Noah Jaxson Griffin
B Camera Operator: Joy Isabella Brown
Lighting Technician: Claire Chrzan
Choreography Assistant: Ruth Muelas
Assistant Director: Ayesha Orange
Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Tyson
Wardrobe Stylist Assistant: Ryan Ruiz
Production Assistants: Derrick Paris, Jolie Ponchetti
Performances by Christian Beasley, Hyosun Choi, Kate Coleman, Jamila Glass, Nicole Hagen, Colleen Hendricks, Tess Hewlett, Marlon Pelayo, JM Rodriguez, Ryan Ruiz
Filmed in 2021 at Stomping Ground L.A.
******
Everything Happens Here (2023)
A 20-minute documentary by Andrew Southam following LACDC's 2022 creative process behind an original work commissioned by the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain.
Most people will only ever see a dancer’s public performance, and the creative process of the choreographer remains invisible. But this short, intimate film places us in the rehearsal studio as eight dancers and Iker work though an emotional, exhausting time, moving quickly from first introductions to a profound and moving work about love, grief and renewal. What begins as a film about that process ultimately becomes a celebration of community and company, and as Iker says in the film, the way we can transform the very space we’re in together in the act of collaboration.
Choreographer: Iker Karrera
Collaborators:
L.A. Contemporary Dance Company in partnership with SPAIN Dances from the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain
Director: Andrew Southam
Original Music: Alex Aller
Flamenco Singer: Juan Debel
Cinematographer + Color Grading: John W. Rutland
Assistant Choreographer: Carla Diego
Editor: Caren McCaleb
Sound: Evan DeVitto, Sam Aston
Post Sound Mix: Evan DeVitto at Sugar Cube
Wardrobe Stylists: Iker Karrera & Jamila Glass
Titles: Cheryl Collins, David Chapman
Cast: Edgar Aguirre, Hyosun Choi, Kate Coleman, Nicole Hagen, Colleen Hendricks, JM. Rodriguez, Ryan Ruiz, Hunter Wayne
Filmed in 2022 at Stomping Ground L.A.
******
ECHOES (2024)
ECHOES explores the process of constant struggle between inner vulnerability and the need for external protection in a world where defense becomes a survival mechanism and the inner self is hidden, but remains latent. The bodies become the means to unveil the deepest emotions: fear, sadness, happiness and coldness. This place shows what is kept and what is forgotten, connecting the individual with the collective, the visible with the hidden.
Choreography: Idoia Rodríguez in collaboration with the LACDC Artists: Colleen Loverde, Lily Massie, Kelle Meschede, Melody Morrow, Dawson Walker
Collaborators:
L.A. Contemporary Dance Company in partnership with SPAIN Dances from the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain
Director: Jamila Glass (LACDC Artistic Director 2021-Present)
Producer: Quinn O’Connor
Cinematographer: Anna Tse
Composer: José Venditti
Text: Idoia Rodríguez
Lighting Technician: Erica Ammerman
Wardrobe Stylist: Jamila Glass
Rehearsal Director: Ayesha Orange
Editor: Danielle King
1st AC: Chris Tse
Performed by Colleen Loverde, Lily Massie, Kelle Meschede, Melody Morrow, Dawson Walker
Filmed in 2024 at Stomping Ground L.A.
Please silence your phones and other electronic devices during the performances.
The taking of photography and video are not allowed.
Program order and Artists are subject to change.
More About LACDC x Spain
LACDC has been in partnership with the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain from 2021-2024, commissioning Spanish choreographers to create new work and exchange practices. The Choreographic Residency offers a unique experience for Spanish choreographers to work with U.S. dance companies.
SPAIN Dances, the dance program of the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain, is conceived to provide professional opportunities for Spanish dances and choreographers in the United States. The Choreographic Residency aims at fostering artistic dialogue between Spanish and American dancers and choreographers, and serves as an incubator for new or in-process work. Each choreographer is selected by LACDC's artistic director Jamila Glass.
Learn more about our global partnerships.
About the Company
L.A. Contemporary Dance is a performance company dedicated to showcasing the artistry of L.A. in live and digital experiences. We curate creative environments that harness the power of the collective, promote a sense of belonging, and champion exploration and learning without judgment. In our programming, we share a restlessness of soul and desire for connection with our collaborators and community. Underscoring our mission to support L.A.-based collaborators, we have commissioned over 35 L.A. choreographers (out of 45 total) and hired 119 dancers who have put down roots in this city. Read more about the company history.
LACDC Board Members
Shavonne Correia, Casey Cowan Gale, Ross Hollenkamp, Michelle Jolly, Kate Hutter Mason, Clifton Smith, Elisa Smith, Ramón Valdez
Thank You to LACDC Grantors
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain, Stomping Ground L.A. Staff, Nathan Kim, Andrew Southam, Caren McCaleb, John W. Rutland, Benjamin Shearn, and Kate Hutter Mason
Extra Special Thanks to our 20th Anniversary Legacy Forward Donors, who are dedicated to the forward momentum of the company: Kate Andrews, Melissa Bailey, Heather Bowen, David Bridel, Click Bond, Danielle Costella, Ryan & Anna Costella, Ross Hollenkamp, Kara Hartnett Hurst, Karl Hutter, Michelle Jolly, Kate Mason, Brittany Mithra, Andrew Pearson, Brandon Perlich, David Rodgers, Will Schoettle, David & Abigail Shapiro, Tony Shayne, Ashley Singh, Jeffrey Slayton, Arad Vejdani, Kelsey Vidic, Kevin Williamson, Ric Zimmerman
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🎉 May 2025 marks L.A. Contemporary Dance Company’s 20th anniversary! 🎉
For two decades, LACDC has been a home for bold, boundary-pushing contemporary dance—bringing artists and audiences together to create, explore, and connect. As we honor this milestone, we’re celebrating where we’ve been and where we’re going!
This anniversary season is packed with exciting events:
🌟 Spring – Pay-What-You-Can community & contemporary dance classes
🎥 May – Retrospective Film Festival & live performance + talkback with filmmakers
🎓 Summer – L.A. Choreographers Institute, LACDC Summer Intensive, and Riverside Dance Festival + Residency (Florida)
🎉 July – 20th Anniversary Celebration PARTY! Featuring memorabilia, costumes, performance footage, and more.
🎭 October – World premiere of Jillian Meyers’ "Story (Un)Structured"
✈️ December – New creation & potential tour in partnership with the Spanish Consulate