We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Keely Cobb a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Keely, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents were always firm believers in encouraging my sister and me to pursue what we were passionate about. They taught us not to focus so much on what would make the most money, but on what would make us feel fulfilled and excited to wake up each day. I think a lot of that came from them dreading their standard 9-to-5 desk jobs at the DMV and Department of Transportation. They wanted us to build lives that felt meaningful beyond simply earning a paycheck.
One of my favorite memories growing up was hearing my parents mention they only had $20 left in the bank. Instead of panicking, they paused, looked at each other, and enthusiastically decided to spend that last $20 taking all of us out for ice cream. That moment has always stayed with me because it perfectly reflects what they valued most: quality time, joy, and shared experiences over material things. Money in our household was never treated as the ultimate measure of success.

That mindset has stayed with me throughout my career as I’ve stepped into the unpredictable and often financially uncertain world of the performing arts as a dancer, choreographer, and producer. Their encouragement gave me the freedom to pursue my passions fully, without fear or shame surrounding a nontraditional career path. It also taught me how to approach challenges creatively and resourcefully, especially when it comes to producing. In many ways, learning to value experiences, people, and ingenuity over excess has become one of my greatest strengths as a producer. The arts often require you to think outside the box, stretch limited resources, and still create something meaningful and impactful. I believe my parents unintentionally prepared me for that from a very young age.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Los Angeles–based creative producer, choreographer, dancer, and arts advocate currently pursuing my MFA in Producing at the California Institute of the Arts. My work exists at the intersection of performance, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration, often blending dance, theater, music, design, and immersive storytelling to create emotionally driven experiences.

I first entered the arts through music and theater at a young age. Growing up, I was heavily involved in band, dance, and performance, and I quickly realized that the arts were not just something I enjoyed — they were how I understood myself and connected with the world around me. I loved performing, but over time I also discovered a passion for what happens behind the scenes: producing, organizing, curating, and building the structure that allows creative work to thrive.
What sets my work apart is that I approach producing as an artist myself. I understand both the logistical and emotional side of creating work. I know what it feels like to take creative risks, to be vulnerable in a rehearsal room, and to fight to bring an idea to life. Because of that, I strive to lead projects with empathy, collaboration, and a strong commitment to creating artist-first environments.

A major focus of my work is supporting emerging artists and creating accessible opportunities within the arts. Early in my career, I became frustrated with exploitative pay-to-perform models that often required artists to financially sacrifice simply for the chance to share their work. In response, I founded Around the Stage | Theatrical Dance Company with the belief that artists deserve to be supported and compensated for their labor. That experience deeply shaped the way I approach producing and strengthened my commitment to eliminating financial barriers and cultivating equitable creative spaces.

Currently, I serve as the Creative Producer for MashUp Contemporary Dance Company and as an Associate Producer for Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, where I help develop performances, festivals, educational programming, and collaborative artistic experiences. Alongside my producing work, I am also a choreographer and educator with extensive experience in arts education and arts integration through theater and dance. Teaching has had a huge impact on my creative philosophy and continues to shape the way I approach mentorship, collaboration, and community-building.

As a creator, I am drawn to work that explores emotional vulnerability, human connection, memory, identity, and the tension between heaviness and joy. I am especially fascinated by immersive and interdisciplinary performance and the ways live art can make audiences feel deeply present and emotionally connected.

One of the things I am most proud of is building a career that allows me to support other artists while continuing to grow as an artist myself. Whether I am choreographing, producing large-scale events, mentoring emerging creatives, or performing, my goal is always the same: to create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to create boldly.
More than anything, I want people to know that my work is deeply people-centered. I believe the arts have the power to create empathy, spark dialogue, strengthen community, and remind people of their humanity. At the core of everything I create is a desire to make people feel something real.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Advocate for more collaboration and less competition. When we work together to lift each other up, the entire ecosystem thrives and everyone benefits.

Invest in arts education and make it more accessible at a younger age to encourage more confidence, boost community building skills and give our youth an outlet.

Provide more funding to arts organizations so artists can receive fair compensation and transparent contracts, and so the organization can shift to artist-first producing models.

Show up locally. Buy a ticket to the show. Donate to the fundraiser. Hire a local creative. These small acts add up and make a big impact!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

“The Art of Relevance” by Nina Simon
“So you want to talk about race?” by Ijeoma Oluo
“The Creative Act; A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin
“The Art of Explanation” by Ros Atkins
“Emergent Strategy” by Adrienne Maree Brown
“The Art of Resonance” by Anne Bogart

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.keelycobb.com
• Instagram: @keelyraincobb + @keelycobbproductions
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keely.r.cobb/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keelycobb
• Other: https://www.calartstheaterportfolio.com/students/cobb

Image Credits

Kelly Mustapha
Julian Shelton
Owen Skarlett