A night of structured improv at Diavolo

Even with a minuscule audience and an injured performer at Diavolo Dance Space on Saturday afternoon, the show went on. In this case, it was the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company offering its first evening-length work, “pinky swear.”

Helmed by artistic director Kate Hutter and company member Kevin Williamson and created in collaboration with the five other troupers, this improvisationally structured piece about camaraderie was well meaning, but its ideas and movement vocabulary proved redundant and unsustainable.

Happily, the 60-minute entertainment was redeemed to some extent by a mutable score composed and performed live by cellist Eric Mason. And Ryan Patterson’s cheerful set -- colorful hanging slats representing doors and windows, and numerous funky lamps -- added eye-catching elements.

Hutter and Williamson, in an opening verbal pingpong match (spoken texts by the performers didn’t always work), set the mood for the coupling-uncoupling, push-pulling and yin-yanging threaded throughout. The gimmick of recruiting the members of the tiny audience to be individual cheering sections (each was assigned a dancer to root for by yelling out such stuff as “bowwow” and “whoo whoo”) was fun, but it felt especially contrived in the nearly empty studio.

In a strong duet, Michael Crotty, who would soon cut his foot and be sidelined for most of the second act, deftly partnered Jamila Glass. Like a ballroom dancer on speed, he twisted, flung and showed her off to brilliant effect. Much groping and clinging also went on between the short, round Hutter and tall, lanky Williamson, their contrasting physiques offering whimsy and occasional awe, as Hutter, unwilling to cede power, aggressively charged him like an enraged bull, a sly smile on her face.

As solos bled into duets, trios and group unisons that suggested cliques of school kids complete with snide taunts (“Baby, is that you, baby?”), the dancers -- including Natalie Hurter, Tiffany Sweat and Nichol Mason -- demonstrated prowess but ultimately had nowhere to go. The myriad black costumes designed by Hutter and Williamson didn’t help, nor did Erin Powell’s rudimentary lighting design.

Hutter is young and full of life. Only time will tell if her ideas can match her ambition. In this case, erecting a tent and retreating into it for intermission was clever. Ending the piece there might not have been a bad thing.

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Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company

Where: Diavolo Dance Space, Brewery Arts Complex, 616 N. Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights

When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 5 p.m. Sunday

Price: $15 and $25

Contact: (323) 225-4242