Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chelsea “SOLACE” Hough. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Chelsea “SOLACE”, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I have absolutely considered leaving the entertainment industry entirely & getting a regular job.
I don’t know how I feel half of the time being an artist/creative because it is so paradoxical. Some days I feel defeated as if I am no where near where I am wanting to be. But then I remember how far I have come & the personal changes I have made to get here. Other days I am thrilled with the work that I am doing & the difference I feel I am making within my community, close knit & beyond. Then there are days where I am riddled with anxiety & find myself comparing my journey to everyone else’s. And on top of it all, the mistreatment & lack of respect is difficult to work through at times with it being such a physically demanding career. I do feel as though I am dealing with that significantly less this year. I have found myself amongst incredibly kind & like-minded individuals, (colleagues & higher ups) that have me graciously moving forward in the direction to continuing this pathway of entertainment, but it had gotten bad enough for me to want to quit not too long ago.
I have found, however, that all the reasons I wanted to let go of this lifestyle were the same reasons I needed to stay in it to stand up for what is right. To be a voice for myself & for others. To help educate those who are wanting to pursuit this as a career by providing factual & personal experiences I have learned & had within the last 10 years. I also love what I do & have gotten to connect & share that passion with countless human beings. In doing so, I’ve been trying to find my own life/work balance by giving myself grace & time to rest in between all of my endeavors. Burnout is real & has the potential to make or break any aspect of your life, in my humble opinion. Focusing on how I want to feel day to day, moment to moment, allows for me to move authentically in my truth & stay grounded in all that I do.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My career started off dancing professionally overseas for an artist by the name of Helene Fischer. I have since found myself dancing/working alongside performers such as Taylor Swift, Mary J. Blige, Dolly Parton, Pitbull, COIN, Florida Georgia Line, for different award shows, live performances, music videos & movies; as well as expanding my artistry to stunt work, choreography & movement coaching. Within the last couple of years, I have gotten to sing & act professionally, which is where I have always wanted my focus to be, while being able to tie in my primary discipline of dance. I am also a faculty member at a dance convention called Immerse Artists Experience (IAX) where I teach improvisation & contemporary, & I teach Heels at Millennium Dance Complex Nashville (MDC Nash).
I have become increasingly passionate about teaching & giving back to the community. Connecting with other individuals, from ages 5 all the way to older adults, brings me so much joy because I have the opportunity to refocus their mentality on what it means to be themselves rather than who they think they need to be or should be due to societies impossible standards of living & beauty. I get to see them grow, shine & become more comfortable in their skin in real time, & there truly isn’t anything like it. And as much as I appreciate their kind words, all I do is facilitate a space in which they feel safe enough to be their true selves. They are the ones breaking down their walls & expanding their horizons. I cannot do that for them. I am simply blessed to bear witness.
As far as my own personal endeavors are concerned, I am looking to do it all; as much as I possibly can within this industry. I want to create meaningful stories through dance, be a part of powerful pieces as big as a feature film or as quaint as a short one. I want to create a fan base with my music that reminds people of the freedom they have to create their own reality. To create pieces of choreography that is remembered & admired for decades to come. To help fellow artists with their craft & guide them to a more comfortable state of being whenever/wherever they are performing. I just want to create & be a part of something meaningful & memorable.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
What I am having to unlearn is the idea that I need to be beautiful in order to be loved, successful & respected. To relearn that my idea of womanhood & being all of the previously mentioned attributes is not limited to the size of my chest, the length of my hair, or the color of my skin. That I do not have to be obliged to every man who advances &/or ridicules me during an audition, nor do I need to go back to any other auditions they may hold in the future. I am unlearning old truths preached to me about who I am & who I had to be, from several different individuals, mentors, & colleagues, to get ahead or simply be well liked. Because it turns out, ‘I’ don’t even like everybody. Those certain “career advancers” that people love to mention tend to undermine & belittle people on the job, at the audition, in the class. I have had first hand experience at their expense. So why do I “need” to be in their good graces if they cause such discomfort in spaces that ask so much of my vulnerability? That is counter-productive in the work space & counter intuitive within my home space. It is a lesson unlearned time & time again because people, at first, don’t always show you who they are, but when they eventually do, I choose to believe them; this new version of them, once masked under opportunities & charisma now exceedingly surpassing all boundaries & respect.
I am unlearning the ways of self-doubt & self-loathing by breaking free from the cycles of being numb to myself & everything around me, & tapping in into the realm of radical self-acceptance & self-love. I will no longer make myself smaller for the comfort of someone else’s ego. I will take up space while having the ability to hold it & make room for others.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Life has surely humbled me in a various amount of ways that has shifted my point of view, but here’s a short list of different books that have helped me gain a broader perspective, bring me peace of mind & helped me to feel more connected.
The Four Agreements & The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Inward by Yung Pueblo
You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
Contact Info:
- Website: soulfullysolace.com
- Instagram: @soulfullysoalce
Image Credits
Logen Christopher VisionByMone StellaXMedia