a group of women wearing long skirts throw their arms back and their leg up

Big Skirt Woman Dance

A passage through time from creation, adolescence, maturity, and into the final journey of life, this piece celebrates a group of women gracefully experiencing these continual transitions.

Choreographer: Kate Hutter
Premiere Date: 2007
Run Time: 11 minutes

Credits

Choreographer: Kate Hutter

LACDC Artists:

Shari Brookler, Devin Fulton, Jamila Glass, Natalie Hurter, Marisa Jimenez

Collaborators Include:

Music: Arvo Pärt, Johann Sebastian Bach, DJ Danger Mouse, Michael Galasso
Costume Designer: Kate Hutter
Costume Construction: Amy Bobeda & Alexis de Forest in collaboration with the choreographers
Lighting Designer: Mason Barker
Photographer: Taso Papadakis

INFO

"It seems I have a thing for creating dances for strong groups of women. This piece is not a far cry from my earlier “Triptych” as it was created to push the female dancers I was working with at the time into new physical territory while preserving their truly feminine qualities - and why not wear big, beautiful skirts while doing it! The piece has come to represent a passage through time from creation, adolescence, maturity, and into our final journey of life. Although it was not built with this intention, it is always interesting to see how works are translated over time to find their true meaning." -Kate Hutter Mason

a group of women wearing long skirts throw their arms back and their leg up

a group of women grab their long skirts

After 20 years of artistic creation and community engagement, L.A. Contemporary Dance concludes its journey as an organization as of January 9, 2026.

Founded to showcase dance in Los Angeles, LACDC evolved into a home for collective artistry where performances were crafted by choreographers and dancers alongside playwrights, composers, designers, filmmakers, photographers, stage managers, technicians — an incredible team whose imaginative work gave shape and emotional depth to our repertory. These collaborations brought contemporary dance to life in ways that were bold, explorative, expressive, and accessible.

Through live events, digital experiences, and educational programming, LACDC cultivated environments rooted in curiosity, belonging, and learning without judgment. The organization consistently asked how contemporary dance might better reflect and serve the community around it, valuing discovery over mastery and process alongside performance.

This vision was made possible thanks to the creativity and leadership of our Artistic Directors, Executive Directors, Managing Directors, and Company Staff:

Artistic Leadership

Kate Hutter Mason — Artistic Director & Co-founder (2005–2015)
Genevieve Carson — Artistic Director (2016–2020)
Jamila Glass — Artistic Director (2021–2025)

Executive & Managing Leadership

Michelle Jolly — Executive Director & Co-founder (2005–2009)
Lauren Dragicevich — Managing Director (2009–2013)
Eva Angeloff — Managing Director (2013–2018)
Napoleon Gladney — Executive Director (2019–2025)

We are profoundly grateful to all who have left their fingerprints on the organization. This work would not have been possible without the support of our board members, donors, producers, presenters, community partners, volunteers, students, audiences, friends, and family — all who believed in this work. You made it possible.

While LACDC as an organization is closing, the values we cultivated continue forward through the relationships formed here and in all of you.

To anyone considering starting a company or pursuing a dream project — do it. Start now. Don’t wait for the opportunity; be the opportunity. We need your voice and creative work more than ever.

Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey.

L.A. Contemporary Dance
(2005–2025)