3 women, fair skinned, brown skinned, and medium skinned, wearing black, clap their hands

pinky swear

“pinky swear” is directed to fluidly interweave improvised movement and dialogue with contemporary choreography. The composition of the piece is comparable to a daily routine: we eat, sleep and work, but it is the impromptu moments in between that shape the way we live and color our perception of this life. In “pinky swear,” we move through the piece as our routine, but are engaged in improvised meetings and moments that shape the outcome of the overall performance.

In these improvised encounters, we come in contact with our friends - they are our caretakers, enemies, lovers, sources of frustration and sources of joy. In these moments, we explore the ambiguity and intimacy of our unique relationships and utilize the combination of choreography and improvisation to illicit authentic moments of trust and companionship.

Co-Directed by Kate Hutter & Kevin Williamson
Premiere Date: 2007
Run Time: 60 minutes

Credits

Co-Directors: Kate Hutter & Kevin Williamson

Collaboratively created with Michael Crotty, Jamila Glass, Natalie Hurter, Nichol Mason, and Tiffany Sweat

LACDC Artists:

Michael Crotty, Jamila Glass, Natalie Hurter, Kate Hutter, Nichol Mason, Tiffany Sweat, Kevin Williamson

Collaborators Include:

Composer: Eric Mason
Lighting Designer: Erin Powell
Costume Designers: Kevin Williamson and Kate Hutter
Set Design and Construction: Ryan Patterson Production Design
Stage Manager: Ashley Singh
Production Manager: Casey Cowan Gale
Photographer: Taso Papadakis

Excerpts | Pinky Swear | L.A. Contemporary Dance

Video solely made of photographs by David Schwep of Dream Sequences

5 dancers of various skinned tones pose with their hands clasped

a fair skinned woman cradles a figure while looking up toward the sky

fair skinned man lifts his head to the sky with his eyes closed

black and white image of man and woman tussling

a fair skinned woman holds up her pinky finger while another fair skinned woman watches

several hands make a pinky swear sign

a fair skinned woman has her arms outstretched while a separate set of fair skinned hands hover on either side of her head

medium skinned man plays the cello

several figures sitting in a black in tent

a fair skinned man and woman kneel across from each other at separate ends of a wooden table

a fair skinned woman sits with her arm around another fair skinned woman, both wearing black. they sit right outside of a black tent.

3 women, fair skinned, brown skinned, and medium skinned, wearing black, clap their hands

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)