N8tive Enough
World Premiere
February 18–20, 2027
Malashock Black Box Theater, San Diego, CA
N8tive Enough, the third and final installment of Christopher Kaui Morgan’s Native identity trilogy, brings a deeply personal and distinctly Hawaiian perspective to questions of identity, belonging, and who gets to define what it means to be Native. Morgan asks questions he has carried throughout his life: Am I Native enough for the non-Native eye? Am I Native enough for my own people? Am I Native enough for me?
Drawing from Morgan’s lived experience as an ethnically ambiguous appearing Hawaiian, N8tive Enough explores the expectations, misperceptions, and contradictions surrounding Native identity. Hula, contemporary dance, storytelling, original music, and projected pop culture imagery come together in a work that moves between anger, frustration, sadness, and humor, inviting audiences into the complexity of Indigenous identity today.
The work completes a trilogy that began with Pōhaku (2016) and continued with Native Intelligence/Innate Intelligence (2023). Together, the three works create an evolving body of contemporary performance rooted in Hawaiian cultural practices and Morgan’s unique perspective as a Native Hawaiian artist working at the intersection of Indigenous and contemporary dance.
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The trilogy has been supported by two National Dance Project Grants, two National Performance Network Creation Fund Awards, and a Creative Capital grant. The first two installments have been presented at more than 25 venues across the United States, reaching more than 11,000 people. With N8tive Enough, Morgan brings this significant body of work to its culminating chapter, continuing to make space for Native perspectives to be seen, heard, questioned, and experienced on their own terms.
Concept, Choreography, Text, Performance, Scenic & Costume Design: Christopher Kaui Morgan
Additional Choreography: Kumu Hula Elsie Kaleihulukea Ryder, Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakāne
Score: Leilehua Lanzilotti, TJ Keanu Tario
Dramaturgy: Tiffanie Carson
Projection Design: Alexandra Kelly Colburn
Lighting: Peter Leibold
Technical Director and Stage Manager: Sarah Chapin
Rehearsal Direction: Lauren Christie
The world premiere of N8tive Enough is funded by a grant from Creative Capital.
Performances
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Thursday, February 18, 7:30 PM, followed by an opening night toast
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Friday, February 19, 7:30 PM, followed by a post-performance discussion
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Saturday, February 20, 2:00 PM, sensory friendly performance
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Saturday, February 20, 7:30 PM, preceded by a 6pm fundraiser and reception
Tickets will be avaiilable in November.