Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Khara Seeley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Khara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

After pursuing the Arts for the past 18 years I knew dancing was a gift God gave me and I always wanted to cultivate my craft in the best way possible.

Since the age of three, I was developing as a dancer training with the Susan Chambers Dance Company, Ballethnic Ballet Dance Academy, and Alvin Alley. Simultaneously I attended performing arts schools that allowed me to hone my skills throughout childhood.

However, I struggled when moving every semester to maintain high grades in academics. The caveat with performing arts schools affected my ability to tap into my creative artistry.

I quickly learned that I am a high performer and achiever outside of the traditional school environment. After graduating high school I challenged myself to get a bachelor’s degree in film production & media studies to learn the ins and outs of film production.

My dream to work as an on-screen actress and dancer are continually evolving and now with my degree and experience, I plan to continue to grow as a producer.

To date, I continue to produce multiple films and shorts with artists and actors through Khara Seeley Productions while serving as the lead production coordinator at Georgia Public Broadcasting. It is always my mission to inspire the youth to share their stories to better impact the culture within the film and entertainment industry. My journey has granted me the opportunity to go beyond being monolithic as a talent and also operate as a producer for some of the most popular production companies and media outlets in the entertainment industry such as BET, Revolt TV, One Music Festival, ABFF Ventures, and Georgia Public Broadcasting, to name a few.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Well I would start off by introducing myself Khara (Car- Ruh)

for those who may need help with the pronunciation. I am a Atlanta, Georgia native which is rare considering everyone in Atlanta is not from Atlanta. My up childhood included moving from state to state throuhgout the country. People often ask if I was an army brat the answer is no. I am a firm believer in having a higher faith and even though we cannot choose the cards God deals us I must play the game of life above my circumstances.

When I was three my mom saw a gift in me as a performer nothing ever stopped me from dancing and grabbing a microphone although I don’t sing I wanted to make people laugh and catch everyones attention with my jubilant personality.

Throughout the years I grew up dancing and discovered my passion for acting at the age of nine. I am truly grateful for my mother’s support throughout the years she would invest the best way she could with the motto find a way or make a way and when it came to pursuing my dreams supported me through them.

Even though I was too young to understand the business and politics of everything I continued my pursuit of living out my dreams with various approaches which is how I became a student of production. I learned early on that being an on-screen talent isn’t enough for me so I pivoted to working more behind the scenes with production companies granting more access for more young girls and women who look like me to have more accessible opportunities throughout the entertainment industry.

As a multi hyphenate individual and entertianing storyteller. I also run businesses catered to women of color like Queenz Affirmations a community based platform that represents women of color through audio affirmations & Brown Girl Files the GO TO source for health, fitness, food, beauty and wellness centered around brown women.

The only way to live your best life is to bless others and teach them how to live their best life from life experiences which is how both businesses were birth and I have many more to come.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One thing to know about me is that quotes write the story of my life “There is no testimony without a test.” The name Khara means dance in Africa no wonder I feel so connected to this art form. I was diagnosed with a rare form of scoliosis in June 2019 but the progressive degeneration of my spine became a trust God moment. I proceeded with surgery in December 2019. Not once did I question my gift of dance being taken from me considering that the procedure included adding two large metal rods to support my spine on both sides without ever being removed. Even though I was uncertain of the outcome physically I wanted to proceed with the possibility of having a straight back rather than allowing fear to keep me in pain and wearing a brace for the rest of my life. This is where the resilience part takes place despite the fact of life circumstances getting in the way of my dreams. God never stopped the dream pre or post-surgery. So I continue to pursue my dreams as a professional dancer in every capacity with rods in my back just as a reminder that “God has my back” literally.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

The most important aspect to an artist is our art. Artists often misjudged the misconceptions of the industry ie the glamour & hype. However, The business facet is where things get tricky. The indusrty doesn’t care about the art as much as the revenue. From personal experience it is just as important for an artist to protect our gifts and talents as much as it is to share them with others.

The best piece of advice that I can contribute to readers is to not sleep on your opportunities. If you leverage your talent right by taking the long and narrow approach in learning the people and roles that are imperative to your team and development. You will have higher chances to control the narrative in how your art is shared. Even though control is an illusion artist are able create better opportunites for themselves when we operate like a business rather than just being an artist waiting to be discovered or having an “I made it moment.” In order to be more than a moment you have to be a executive producer of your story.

So invest in learning how to promote your art and develop your gift as a “one person team” so when your talent starts receive recognition you already have the mindset of how to protect and promote your art at the same time.

Creativity is contagious which is why we are often inspired by the great talents who also works behind the scenes like an Issa Rae or Ryan Coogler, Courtney Kemp or Tracey Oliver. Talented individuals who mastered there gifts by studying every facet of their crafts have a longer and more impactful inprint as artist than those who were one hit wonders. Remember we always live in a time of “what’s next” so since we are always consuming it is important that as artist we think about making art that is generational and that only happens when you think long term.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kharaseeley.com
• Instagram: Khara Delaney
• Facebook: kharaseeley
• Linkedin: khara seeley
• Twitter: kharaseeley
• Youtube: kharaseeley
• Yelp: kharaseeley

Image Credits
@primephocus @j.nowens