Khaleshia Thorpe-Price is an “imagination cultivator,” who transitioned from performing artist to teaching artist to entrepreneur with her Montgomery County-based company, Dramatic Play. She has worked in the field of arts education for over 20 years.
I’m a theater teaching artist.
I teach playwriting, storytelling, and creative drama. I do workshops and residencies as well as community performances. My youngest audience members are infants and toddlers, and I also work with their parents and caregivers. I do programs in schools, as well as with senior citizens. And I’m teaching arts integration at the University of Maryland for juniors studying elementary education. So, I do a lot of arts integration.
My career in theater education started long before Dramatic Play came into existence. I have always been passionate about the performing arts, and my journey began when I attended Morgan State for theater. I didn’t initially envision myself as an educator. My dream was to perform. However, life had other plans for me.
In between academic pursuits, I found myself getting jobs at schools. I had stints at a Montessori school and worked as a performing arts teacher in Orlando during my grad school years at the University of Central Florida. I kept ending up in schools. It was from these experiences that I began to discover my love for teaching, particularly in the theater field.
As time passed, I realized I didn’t want to choose between performing and teaching. I wanted to do both. This realization led me to explore merging my passion for theater with education. I started teaching playwriting, storytelling, and creative drama. I conducted workshops and residencies, working with diverse groups of participants, students of all ages.
Arts Integration in Teaching
One of my defining philosophies as a teaching artist is arts integration. I believe in using theater to teach a wide range of subjects, from creative writing to social-emotional skills. For instance, I deliver creative aging programming with seniors, guiding them in activities like writing and dramatizing their life stories, nurturing problem-solving skills and emotional growth.
This journey ultimately shaped my understanding of the power of theater in education. So, I returned here to do a fellowship at Arena Stage, the Alan Lee Hughes fellowship, in 2006. There, I got to delve deep into teaching theater, going into schools, doing a lot of community work, and getting what I was missing in terms of the mentoring and professional development that I needed as a theatre teacher but was missing in the school systems.
After the fellowship, I worked administratively in the education department at both Arena Stage and Wolftrap in Northern Virginia – in their education departments, creating and coordinating programs for schools.
When I decided to venture out independently, it was primarily driven by the challenges I faced as a new mother. Balancing the demands of commuting, strict work schedules, and a nine-to-five job became challenging. I couldn’t find a rhythm that worked for me. I talked with my husband about possibly focusing solely on my work as a teaching artist. In 2011, I took the leap and decided to go solo. I reached out to my network, drawing on contacts from my theater and Wolf Trap days, to find opportunities as a teaching artist.
Creating Dramatic Play
The journey to establishing Dramatic Play as a recognized entity had its hurdles. It wasn’t until 2019, just before the pandemic struck that I realized the need to establish a more formal presence for myself. I worked in various places but had yet to leave my mark. I had to navigate a transition from working for larger arts organizations to forging my own path. However, by offering partnerships through the Maryland Arts Council Roster and grant funding opportunities, I was able to make a seamless transition.
In 2019, I officially launched my company, taking the necessary steps like registering an LLC. Then, in 2020, the pandemic hit. With workshops and activities canceled due to the pandemic, I had more time on my hands. It was then I recognized the importance of building my brand and completing my website. Although I initially struggled with the idea of being active, I committed to a presence on social media.
Posting on social media felt like a significant challenge, but I knew I had to step out of my comfort zone. I realized that maintaining a visible online presence was crucial. The shutdown forced me to adapt and showcase my ability to conduct workshops and classes virtually. It became evident that I needed to let people know I was still available and actively working. The pandemic served as a catalyst, pushing me to embrace my entrepreneurial side and take my business to the next level.
Fast forward to today, Dramatic Play is the manifestation of my vision. It’s the company through which I express my teaching artistry. I offer various programs, from workshops and residencies for different age groups to community performances. My work extends to the University of Maryland, where I teach arts integration to aspiring elementary education juniors.
One of the challenges I faced as a teaching artist was the need for more awareness about the term itself. Many of us in the field considered ourselves community artists, while others hesitated to embrace the term entirely. Teaching artists can be found in diverse spaces, from schools to hospitals and libraries. The term “community artist” often resonates better with people, conveying inclusivity beyond just working with children.
Business (and Life) in Montgomery County
I’m from New Jersey. I’m from Freehold, New Jersey, a tiny little town near the shore. When I left New Jersey, the first place I ever moved to was Baltimore because I did my undergraduate degree at Morgan. And, as I said, after grad school in Florida, the fellowship at Arena Stage brought me back. I didn’t realize I would be here this long. But I met my husband here, and that was that!
My involvement in Montgomery County as a business owner is still evolving. However, I appreciate the various resources available to small businesses here. I did secure a small business loan through the Latino Economic Development Center, and I realized the County has many other valuable resources for entrepreneurs like me.
Montgomery County has been the backdrop for my journey, and I’m excited to see what the future holds as I continue to create, teach, and inspire through the world of theater.
What I’ve Learned: Wisdom for Other Entrepreneurs in the Creative Fields
Reflecting on my journey, I have learned that as a teaching artist, entrepreneurship is about trusting yourself and your abilities. It’s about embracing your passion and finding innovative ways to merge it with education.
As a Maryland Director and board member of Teaching Artists of the Mid-Atlantic, I advise other teaching artists who are just starting out to view themselves as businesses. The IRS treats us accordingly, so it’s essential to establish your brand, gain respect as a business, and create a memorable identity. Take advantage of free professional development opportunities to gradually enhance your skills and be prepared for both highs and lows.
As I celebrate nearly five years of Dramatic Play, I’m proud of the impact I’ve made through arts integration and theater education. My journey continues, and I look forward to inspiring more individuals through the power of dramatic play.
