a woman stands in the middle of a group of people

Build Together, Shift Apart

Eight dancers move through the mechanics of a contemporary social dance. Things run smoothly until one dancer questions their role in the machine, leading to a total breakdown. Featuring an original score by Kevin DeKimpe.

Choreographer: Andrew Pearson
Premiere Date: 2013
Run Time: 18 minutes

Credits

Choreographer:

Andrew Pearson

LACDC Artists:

Kate Andrews, Christian Beasley, Hyosun Choi, Marisa Jimenez, Gakenia Muigai, JM. Rodriguez, Melissa Schade, and Kim Thompson

Collaborators include:

Original Score: Kevin DeKimpe
Lighting Designer: William Sammons
Costume Designer: Andrew Pearson and Kate Hutter
Photographer: Taso Papadakis

INFO

Trailer coming soon...

two women stand in front of one another, a strip of makeup spans across the middle of their faces

a woman watches something in the distance

a woman with her arms above her head in a diamond shape

a man and a woman stand side by side with one arm in the air

a woman stands with her arms above her head in a diamond shape

a group of dancers stand in arabesque with their foot flexed

pairs of dancers face off with their arms stretched toward one another

two women cross one of their arms over the other, their heads side by side

over the shoulder shot of a woman staring at another woman

pairs of dancers in mid-motion. the pair of women in the foreground embrace.

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)