Today we’d like to introduce you to Khalia Davis Philp.
Hi Khalia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a California native, I discovered my love for storytelling at a really young age. I fell in love with literature and media and how those mediums would open my imagination to all the different worlds that could be created. Creative expression through the arts was how I showed off my individuality. And I was encouraged by watching performers that looked like me and my community. I have also always been a life-long learner and so the idea that you could study the arts and then turn it into a real profession fascinated me. I started working professionally as an artist in elementary school and have not looked back since, graduating from the University of Southern California and working on both coasts. I think the biggest driver for how I got into leadership within the arts is what inspired my love for it in the first place: seeing a reflection of myself and my own lived experiences. All young people deserve to feel seen. I value the ability to create artistic experiences for young audiences that fuel their creativity, ignite their imagination, and celebrate their own lived experiences.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Getting to where I am now has not always been easy. There have not been many Black women my age who have pursued leadership within theatre for young audiences, so I had to find mentorship and opportunities either adjacent to or just outside of my chosen field. That was hard because I didn’t have a role model to compare experiences with or to grow from as I was building my professional career. There are a lot of incredibly talented Black artists but not as many that move up in leadership within the field of theater for young audiences. I had to form my own path without a ton of guidance.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a multidisciplinary artist who specializes in the creation of art of young people. I currently work as the Producing Artistic Director for The Coterie Theatre. The Coterie Theatre has been in business for almost 50 years serving kids and families with bold new works and classic favorites. I started working here over a year ago and have loved seeing the direct impact of what we do with the communities we serve. I think what sets me apart from other artists is my diverse background as an actor, arts educator, producer, director, and arts leader. As well as my deeply rooted passion in fostering the well-being of a young person. I have worked in almost every aspect of this industry! I use the arts as a way to build up the next generation of good humans because storytelling is one of the first major art forms exposed to a child. A child learns their letters and numbers through wordplay and songs. They learn how to regulate their movements and emotions through dance. They learn how to communicate their needs and build relationships with repetition and play. I think I am most proud of the shows I have created and the classes I have taught that leave a student with a genuine curiosity for more theatrical experiences in their life whether that be through performing themselves or being an active participant in the audience or classroom.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
As the Producing Artistic Director of a professional theater company, we are always looking for more talented artists and creatives who are interested in working with us. This could be on our stage or in our education classes and workshops. Personally, I love collaborating with all types of people on new artistic projects and am always open to learning more about what they do and how our passions can align! Folks can reach out to me through my professional email: [email protected] or my personal email: [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: https://khaliadavis.com
- Instagram: @khaliashd
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khalia-davis-7a1806217
