Meet Chelsea Maria Hough | Multifaceted Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Maria Hough and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea Maria, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Pursuing a creative career was never in question. It was something I had always wanted to do & have been fully supported in my journey. I knew how influential those in the entertainment industry could be, & I felt, even at a young age, I had something of importance to say/share though my love for the arts. Initially, I started off booking gigs as a backup dancer for various artists, music videos, commercials, etc which have done for about 8+ years. The main pursuit has been to be a multifaceted artist, & that is exactly what I have become. From dancing to singing, stunt work & choreography/movement coaching, I have found myself in a field of expansive creativity & innovation. The joy of what I have found within this industry is in its simplicity of all that I can immerse myself in. Not limiting my wants, desires & talents to the box people try so desperately to keep me in. I am able to fully express myself & help others do the same. I deeply enjoy what I do.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a professional dancer, singer, choreographer, movement coach/instructor, & stunt performer. Dance has always been a part of my life, & everything else just happened naturally. The stunt work is fairly new, but it is something I am so honored to be a part of. Personally, I pride myself in being able to work in different spaces with people from all walks of life. The irony is, the entertainment industry is a living contradiction when it comes to keeping talent in particular box. One minute, they are telling us we need to “Triple-Threats” & then only book you as a dancer. The importance of not limiting what I do, is for that reason specifically.

I started off moving to California at the age of 19 after attending two different colleges for dance. I had auditioned for season 10 So You Think You Can Dance & had made straight to Vegas, so I knew it was time to put my potential to the test. Soon after moving, I found myself auditioning fairly often & booking commercials, music video, & dancing in Germany for an artist named Helene Fischer. As time went on, I found myself auditioning for a touring stunt show called Marvel Universe LIVE! where I ended up touring the United States & around Europe while portraying the role of Storm from the X-Men. This opportunity was one of the best things that has ever happened for me, & broadened my perspective as a performer. From then on, I was booking regularly for gigs such as: The CMT Awards, The Amerikan Musik Show in Lennestadt, Germany where I sang & danced, The Billboard Music Awards, The BET Awards, CMA Country Christmas, Netflix’s A Week Away, countless music videos, doubling the mom on Black Lighting, & to my surprise, making the top 10 on So You Think You Can Dance season 15, where I got to tour the country. I have also found myself in my dream job teaching improvisation at a dance convention called Immerse Artists Experience (IAX).

Each opportunity & audition came with their set of challenges, of course. From checking in with my morals to focusing who I was surrounding myself with, I made sure to make the most educated decision on how I would move forward or part ways. There was one artist I kept getting sent to audition for several times year, & time & time again, I would not book with him. There were plenty reasons why that I may never know, but the way I was mocked & disrespected during the last couple of auditions confirmed that that team of people wasn’t the energy I would want to be around anyway. Something similar happened to me on a several different jobs as well. Those experiences taught me how to place & focus my energy. It helped with how I continued to pursuit my career & ultimately place me where I am today. I will not be able to control who I end up working with, but it’s a great deciding factor on whether or not I will be back. This also helped me realize what I actually want to be doing with my life & stop fixating on the things I don’t even want to be bothered with in the first place.

I am someone who does her best to keep her integrity in compromising spaces. I feel that honesty & respect should be at the forefront of every relationship you want to build in this industry. At the same time, it is more than okay to say no & turn down an opportunity. It’s not always fun seeing your colleagues around you booking things you may have turned down or the way it seems like everyone is always booked & blessed while you’re waiting for your turn to shine, but it’s worth waiting & working for something that is truly meant for you. I’d rather find myself in a safe & healthy environment knowing that what I & all who is involved have to offer is appreciated, because I know that to be a great recipe for a beautifully complete project.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Considering I made my move to Atlanta right before the pandemic, I didn’t get a chance to truly explore the city in the same way I did in Los Angeles. BUT, I enjoy going out dancing, so one night or two, if we were up for it, I’d take us to Edgewood to bar hop. All the other days would be food oriented, so Little Five Points, Ponce City Market, Krog Street, & pretty much everything near & on the Beltline.

I’m also someone who enjoys a bit of adventure, so I would also plan a kayaking or tubbing river trip on the Chattahoochee! Or even just head out to one of Georgia’s infamous lakes & take the jet-ski. There are also really nice trails around the city, especially during the fall season. There is always plenty to do

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The majority of my support, love & encouragement, has come from my parents & my grandmother. Financially, emotionally, & spiritually, they have had my back from the beginning, which is incredibly rare for someone who primarily focuses their efforts in the arts. They have my best interests in mind & never discourage me from my ambitions. I have also been in a relationship, with someone who doesn’t allow for me to give up on myself. He constantly gives me new perspectives that allows me to be all that I am & do all that I want. Whether it be preparing for a huge opportunity, or making sure I get the rest I need, I have his support in being myself. The friends I have made along the way, encourage the same things my loved ones do. A couple of artists with shared experiences who make me feel whole, which is also rare in this industry. I am incredibly honored to have these wonderful people in my life. Without them, I would not be where I am at to this day. Our love for one another allows for each of us to grow as we desire.

Instagram: @chelseamariahough OR @solacesoulfood

Twitter: @BayBeeHuff

Facebook: Chelsea Maria Hough

Youtube: Chelsea Maria Hough

Other: TikTok: SolaceSoulFood

Image Credits
For all the professional shots: Ramon Dickenson The IAX photo was taken by friend, Shelby & the club photo is a screenshot of a commercial I was in for Crowne Royal.