APPRENTICE

Rylie Budnick is a recent alumna of Converse University, where she earned a B.A. in Dance and a B.A. in Business Administration. A Spartanburg, South Carolina native, she has made a meaningful impact both on campus and in the broader community through choreography centered on social engagement and community building. She now plans to pursue her M.F.A. at UNC Greensboro, with the goal of teaching dance at the collegiate level in the Carolinas. Through her dance choreography, pedagogy, and scholarship, she aims to expand access to dance and deepen arts education throughout the region.

APPRENTICE

Shannon holds a Master of Arts in Dance Education from NYU and played a key role in the opening of Connecticut Dance Center, where she also contributed to the development of the ABT Tots program. Since relocating to Columbia, she has taught at the University of South Carolina and Columbia College, as well as at Mrs. Jenkins Dance Academy and the Center for Dance Education. She also worked with Unbound during the 2025 Summer Intensive. As a performer, Shannon has collaborated with Columbia Repertory Dance Company, Moving Bodies Dance, DanceKerr & Dancers, and Roza Dance Company.

APPRENTICE

Kaela Coleman is a passionate and dedicated dance educator and performer originally from Hodges, South Carolina. Kaela is a graduate of Columbia College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Studies with a minor in Psychology. While at Columbia College, Kaela was an active member of the Columbia College Dance Company, performed as a tap dancer and vocalist with Broadway Bound, and trained with Power Company Collaborative. Kaela has been the dance teacher at Heyward Gibbes Middle school since 2016, where she is committed to fostering both confidence and creativity in her students, inspiring them to explore their artistry and grow as individuals through the discipline of dance. This is her second season as an apprentice with Cola Rep Dance Company.

APPRENTICE

Kait has always been drawn to movement as both expression and inquiry. With a foundation in dance and a focus on somatic and contemporary practices, her work lives at the intersection of artistry and awareness. She is excited to work with Cola Rep for their 2026 season and currently performs with Jessie Natusch Dance Works. Beyond performance, Kait works in arts leadership and teaches dance and yoga, guiding others toward strength, presence, and connection. Her approach is grounded, intuitive, and ever-evolving—rooted in the belief that movement is not just something we do, but something we live.

APPRENTICE

Dylan Miller from Chapin, South Carolina, is a dancer and an undergraduate student at Converse University pursuing a B.A. in Dance. He first began his dance training at Spring Hill High School, where he would eventually become the captain of Spring Hill Dance Company, joined the National Honors Society of Dance, and won the Senior Dancer of The Year Award. Dancing gives Dylan so much joy and he loves to show it off on the dance floor. Dylan is excited to be a part of the Columbia Repertory Dance Company for this season!