Artist:
Debra McGee

PROGRAM: DANCE

Debra moved to Hawaii island in 2011 after performing, teaching, and choreographing in NY and MN Twin Cities for over 2 decades. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College in N.Y.C. There she performed works by Jose Limon, Milton Myers, Jeffrey Holder, Louis Falco, Virginia Johnson and Lar Lubovich. Debra is a former member of Garth Fagan Dance and performed his works nationally and internationally. Thereafter, she began teaching and choreographing again while training vocally at the Eastman School of Music in NY where she performed numerous excerpts from operatic and Broadway productions. She returned to MN where she worked with former Alvin Ailey principal’s company called TU Dance, performed in numerous musicals and worked as a teaching artist. She has taught and created works at the University of Minnesota, Gustavus Adolphus College, The Cowles Center, Penumbra Theater and St. Paul Conservatory.

She spent the last decade teaching on the West side of the island at performing arts centers and the public schools. Debra also performs with Prince Dance Theater based out of Waimea, HI. She currently resides on the East side of the island and teaches at Malamalama Waldorf School as their movement specialist, directs a youth dance program called Danse Space Hawaii and participates in Donkey Mill’s Summer Programs. She has also participated in the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival as an educator and choreographer where she received a regional award from Broadway World Hawai’i for her choreography for the production of Hair. Debra’s true love is dance because she can communicate to any culture through this universal language.
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ʻUmeke Kāʻeo: Flavors and Flow


Celebrate the 2026 Summer Reading theme through the energy, creativity, and through Hip Hop dance. In this all-ages, open-level class, participants will explore how movement, rhythm, and personal style can come together to “fill our ʻumeke” with expression and personal flavors.

This one-hour session includes:

• An upbeat, easy-to-follow warm-up introducing basic Hip Hop moves
• Learning foundational Hip Hop steps (adapted for all levels and abilities) 
• Creative freestyle exercises where participants add their own style and flavor to the movement 
• Simple choreography inspired by themes of community, storytelling, and individuality 
• Opportunities for group participation and encouragement in a fun, supportive environment 

Movements can be done standing or adapted for seated participation, making this class accessible to a wide range of abilities. The focus is on self-expression, rhythm, and confidence—not perfection.

I will introduce participants to the foundations of Hip Hop dance, including groove, musicality, and freestyle, while encouraging them to bring their own voice and creativity into the movement. The class emphasizes the cultural roots of Hip Hop as a form of storytelling, connection, and community expression.

Audience Suitability:

• Children (5+) with caregivers 
• Teens and adults 
• Multigenerational families 
• Beginners and anyone curious about Hip Hop dance 
• Inclusive of varying mobility levels and experience

For booking inquiries, email us at community.programs@hawaii.edu