Karley Childress (professional name KayceeCole) is originally from Memphis, TN, where she began her dance journey at the age of three. During her early training, she studied ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, and hip hop. After graduating high school, Karley continued her dance training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where she earned her BFA in Contemporary Dance in 2024. Through her studies at UNCSA, she was exposed to several techniques, including Countertechnique, Horton, Cunningham, Limón, and West African. There, she performed works by Rena Butler, Jim Vincent, Ashley Lindsey, Dwana Smallwood, Gina Patterson, Amyia Burrell, Anthony Lee Bryant, Andrew Harper, and José Limón.

Karley has attended summer programs including Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Since graduating, she has been selected as one of eight choreographers for the 2024 Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellowship Program at Jacob’s Pillow and was one of five choreographers chosen for the Joffrey Ballet’s 2025 Winning Works. She has also served as a mentor and choreographer for Ballet Memphis’ Summer Intensive and as a guest choreographer for Indiana Ballet Conservatory’s Summer Intensive.

In 2026, Karley completed the New York Choreographic Institute, further expanding her choreographic practice and artistic research. She continues to develop her work as a freelance artist, offering private dance training and choreography while creating opportunities to share her artistic voice with dancers and communities both locally and beyond Memphis.