group of people on their knees with their bare backs to us stretch out their arms

Looking Back

This piece utilizes no music, and is set to the dancer's breath and body movements. Its title refers to both a step back in history as well as the anonymity and new identities that are created as the dancers perform the piece predominantly facing upstage.

Choreographer: Kate Hutter
Premiere Date: 2010
Run Time: 9 minutes

Credits

Choreographer:

Kate Hutter
Developed with the USC Repertory Company in 2003 and 2010 and performed at the Bing Theater at the University of Southern California.

LACDC Artists:

Kate Andrews, Hyosun Choi, Marisa Jimenez, Justin Liu, Marcello de sa Martins, Andrew Pearson, Athena Sterig & Angel Tyson

Collaborators include:

Lighting Designer: Mason Barker
Costume Designer: Kate Hutter
Photographer: Eric Mason

Trailer coming soon...

woman with her bare back facing us, arms hovering over the ground

group of people with their bare backs facing us pull their head to the left

figures stand with their bare backs to us and the hands behind their backs

woman lays on the floor with one hand across her mouth

woman covers her face while in an attitude

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)