It is my honor to write in strong support of Adaptations Dance Theater (ADT) and its funding for FY2027.
Maui has a remarkably vibrant dance scene. Three major studios serve hundreds of dedicated young dancers who train seriously and dream ambitiously. But training alone is not enough. Young artists must see professional work live. They must sit in a theater and witness what is possible. They must experience workshops, conversations, and rehearsals with working professional dancers. ADT makes this possible.
Beyond presenting performances, ADT sustains a pipeline–one that allows dancers born and raised on Maui to build professional careers on Maui, serving the very community that raised them.
I have witnessed this pipeline firsthand.
Ali McKeon, ADT’s Executive Director, was born and raised on Maui. After a professional dance career in California, she returned home–first as a dancer, then Artistic Director, and now Executive Director of the company. Her sister, Emily McKeon, followed a similar path–dancer, Director of ADT’s PIVOT Summer Training Company, and now choreographer for the company. Dancers such as Katie Whiticar and Ella Craft are additional examples of artists who have grown within Maui’s dance ecosystem and now contribute professionally to the island’s artistic landscape.
As a dance teacher at the Maui Academy of Performing Arts and Momentum Dance Maui, I have taught many of these young women. I have watched them grow from passionate students into professional artists performing works by world-class choreographers on the Historic ʻĪao Theater stage. The impact of that visibility is profound. The students I currently teach see what is possible–not somewhere far away, but here at home.
In a geographically isolated community, access to professional art is not guaranteed. Without organizations like ADT, aspiring dancers would have to leave the island, often permanently, to experience professional contemporary work at a high level. ADT ensures that Maui remains not only a place where artists are born, but a place where they can return, build, and lead.
The company strengthens our cultural ecosystem. It keeps our artistic community intact. It raises the standard of excellence while maintaining deep local roots.
Supporting Adaptations Dance Theater means investing in rural arts access, professional excellence, youth inspiration, and sustainable artistic careers within Hawaiʻi. It means ensuring that world-class contemporary dance continues to thrive in a place where access is rare but hunger for artistry is abundant.
I strongly encourage you to fund Adaptations Dance Theater.
With gratitude for your consideration,
Kathleen McKeon
Momentum Dance Maui
My name is Ali McKeon, and I serve as the Executive Director of Adaptations Dance Theater. I’m writing to respectfully request another year of support for ADT - Maui’s only contemporary dance company, now entering its 13th season on island.
This funding directly supports the contracting of Maui-born, raised, and trained dance artists, ensuring they do not have to leave home to pursue professional careers. It allows our local arts ecosystem to stay intact while giving our community access to world-class contemporary dance. With few to no professional dance companies regularly brought to Maui, ADT fills a critical gap—serving as both a cultural offering for audiences and a professional model for the many dance schools and young artists across the island.
Artists like Katie Whiticar, Emily McKeon, Hiroki Ichinose, Ella Craft, and myself are just a few examples of Maui residents who have been able to return or remain home to continue our craft and give back to the community that raised us.
Through our Bring It Home performances, SEED choreographic residencies, and Pivot training company, ADT creates meaningful opportunities for artists while engaging hundreds of community members each year through performances, open rehearsals, and educational programming. Our work not only strengthens Maui’s cultural landscape, but also builds a sustainable pipeline for future generations of local artists.
We are deeply grateful for your continued support and consideration.
Mahalo,
Ali McKeon
Executive Director
Adaptations Dance Theater
I am writing in support of Maui County funding for Adaptations Dance Theater, Maui's only contemporary dance company. ADT's mission is to provide a home for professional dancers who are from Maui and who have extensive training. This gives hope to our young artists that they can stay on Maui after college. In addition, we need the arts for healing. We are separated from the continent and even from Oahu by water, so it is important that our community has artistic events as part of their lives. Research has shown that attending art performances lifts the spirits and is a positive influence on health. We need this more than ever now after the trauma we've experienced from the recent floods.
Thank you for your support for ADT. Please continue that support for another year.
Susan Browne, Haiku
Dear Councilmembers,
It is my honor to write in strong support of Adaptations Dance Theater (ADT) and its funding for FY2027.
Maui has a remarkably vibrant dance scene. Three major studios serve hundreds of dedicated young dancers who train seriously and dream ambitiously. But training alone is not enough. Young artists must see professional work live. They must sit in a theater and witness what is possible. They must experience workshops, conversations, and rehearsals with working professional dancers. ADT makes this possible.
Beyond presenting performances, ADT sustains a pipeline–one that allows dancers born and raised on Maui to build professional careers on Maui, serving the very community that raised them.
I have witnessed this pipeline firsthand.
Ali McKeon, ADT’s Executive Director, was born and raised on Maui. After a professional dance career in California, she returned home–first as a dancer, then Artistic Director, and now Executive Director of the company. Her sister, Emily McKeon, followed a similar path–dancer, Director of ADT’s PIVOT Summer Training Company, and now choreographer for the company. Dancers such as Katie Whiticar and Ella Craft are additional examples of artists who have grown within Maui’s dance ecosystem and now contribute professionally to the island’s artistic landscape.
As a dance teacher at the Maui Academy of Performing Arts and Momentum Dance Maui, I have taught many of these young women. I have watched them grow from passionate students into professional artists performing works by world-class choreographers on the Historic ʻĪao Theater stage. The impact of that visibility is profound. The students I currently teach see what is possible–not somewhere far away, but here at home.
In a geographically isolated community, access to professional art is not guaranteed. Without organizations like ADT, aspiring dancers would have to leave the island, often permanently, to experience professional contemporary work at a high level. ADT ensures that Maui remains not only a place where artists are born, but a place where they can return, build, and lead.
The company strengthens our cultural ecosystem. It keeps our artistic community intact. It raises the standard of excellence while maintaining deep local roots.
Supporting Adaptations Dance Theater means investing in rural arts access, professional excellence, youth inspiration, and sustainable artistic careers within Hawaiʻi. It means ensuring that world-class contemporary dance continues to thrive in a place where access is rare but hunger for artistry is abundant.
I strongly encourage you to fund Adaptations Dance Theater.
With gratitude for your consideration,
Kathleen McKeon
Momentum Dance Maui
Aloha Councilmembers,
My name is Ali McKeon, and I serve as the Executive Director of Adaptations Dance Theater. I’m writing to respectfully request another year of support for ADT - Maui’s only contemporary dance company, now entering its 13th season on island.
This funding directly supports the contracting of Maui-born, raised, and trained dance artists, ensuring they do not have to leave home to pursue professional careers. It allows our local arts ecosystem to stay intact while giving our community access to world-class contemporary dance. With few to no professional dance companies regularly brought to Maui, ADT fills a critical gap—serving as both a cultural offering for audiences and a professional model for the many dance schools and young artists across the island.
Artists like Katie Whiticar, Emily McKeon, Hiroki Ichinose, Ella Craft, and myself are just a few examples of Maui residents who have been able to return or remain home to continue our craft and give back to the community that raised us.
Through our Bring It Home performances, SEED choreographic residencies, and Pivot training company, ADT creates meaningful opportunities for artists while engaging hundreds of community members each year through performances, open rehearsals, and educational programming. Our work not only strengthens Maui’s cultural landscape, but also builds a sustainable pipeline for future generations of local artists.
We are deeply grateful for your continued support and consideration.
Mahalo,
Ali McKeon
Executive Director
Adaptations Dance Theater
I am writing in support of Maui County funding for Adaptations Dance Theater, Maui's only contemporary dance company. ADT's mission is to provide a home for professional dancers who are from Maui and who have extensive training. This gives hope to our young artists that they can stay on Maui after college. In addition, we need the arts for healing. We are separated from the continent and even from Oahu by water, so it is important that our community has artistic events as part of their lives. Research has shown that attending art performances lifts the spirits and is a positive influence on health. We need this more than ever now after the trauma we've experienced from the recent floods.
Thank you for your support for ADT. Please continue that support for another year.
Susan Browne, Haiku