| Mimi Costa-White |
| CONTACT US: Mimi Costa-White, Owner Doreen's School of the Dance 520 Third Street Antioch, CA 94509 (925)757-8981 |
Tapping since the age of three, Mimi Costa-White learned to dance from her mother,
Doreen Pokusa, founder of Doreen's School of the Dance. Both Mimi and Doreen
spent their summers in Carmel, studying the Cecchetti method of ballet training. By
age ten, Mimi had begun ballet classes with Lynette Panganiban, a faculty member
with the San Francisco Ballet School, who remained her mentor and teacher until Mimi
entered college. It was under Ms. Panganiban's tutelage that Mimi auditioned for and
won a part in the New York City Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker," performed in
San Francisco at the War Memorial Opera House. This was a rare opportunity to
dance with some of the most famous in the ballet world at that time. After attending
college at Diablo Valley and San Francisco State, Mimi began her teaching career at
the family studio. In 1970, Valerie Taylor, a soloist with The Royal Ballet, presented a
seminar on a new ballet syllabus written by Dame Margot Fonteyn. Finding the RAD
training very exciting, Mimi studied intensively with Mary Conmee (one of the founders
of the American branch of the Royal Academy) and passedthe exams for
membership. In 1979 Mimi was certified as a member of Dance Masters of America
and completed DMA's Teachers' Training School in a three-year course of study.
Mimi has maintained her Continuing Education credits on a yearly basis ever since.
She is also a member of the Professional Dancers Society.
Dance Masters of America is an international organization of chapters of dance
teachers, certified by test to teach. Mimi is a past president of Dance Masters of
California and Parliamentarian, having served on the DMC board of directors since
1982. She is also on the examination committee for new members. Mimi has sat on
the National Board of Directors for Dance Masters of America as the DMC delegate
for many years, is a nationally certified examiner of new members and serves as an
adjudicator of competitions throughout the country. Mimi was elected the National
2nd Vice President of DMA in the summer of 2002 and became National President in
2006.
An advocate for theatre in both the schools and community, Mimi has choreographed
countless musicals for Antioch Junior High, Antioch High School, Pittsburg Christian
Center School, the Methodist Youth Group touring company, and Antioch Repertory
Theatre (formerly APAG). In 1999, she was nominated for a Shellie Award for her
choreography of "You're A Good Man , Charlie Brown."
Raising scholarship money for higher education has been the community outreach
goal of Doreen's School of the Dance for many years. The range of recipients eligible
now includes Antioch High, Deer Valley High and Prospects High seniors, reaching
many more students than ever before. Mimi continues to produce the highest quality
dance recitals to fund these scholarships.
Mimi has three lovely daughters. Kymm has a B.A. in Dance, performed with Limon 2
Dance Company and is currently the General Manager of Courtside Athletic Club and
Spa in Los Gatos. Leslie holds a degree in Elementary Education and teaching
credential and is on staff at Mno Grant Elementary teaching third grade. Christi has a
B.A. in Dance, Social Science and a teaching credential. After building the dance
program at Deer Valley High, and Eagle Rock High in Los Angeles. She currently
teaches a full schedule of dance classes at Millikin, an arts magnet middle school in
Pasadena and dances for Disney. All three have taught on the faculty of Doreen's
School of the Dance, proudly making it a three generation studio! Mimi is married to
Lorin White, one of Antioch Unified School District's most respected music teachers.
Lorin is now on staff at Prospects High School.
Doreen Pokusa, founder of Doreen's School of the Dance. Both Mimi and Doreen
spent their summers in Carmel, studying the Cecchetti method of ballet training. By
age ten, Mimi had begun ballet classes with Lynette Panganiban, a faculty member
with the San Francisco Ballet School, who remained her mentor and teacher until Mimi
entered college. It was under Ms. Panganiban's tutelage that Mimi auditioned for and
won a part in the New York City Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker," performed in
San Francisco at the War Memorial Opera House. This was a rare opportunity to
dance with some of the most famous in the ballet world at that time. After attending
college at Diablo Valley and San Francisco State, Mimi began her teaching career at
the family studio. In 1970, Valerie Taylor, a soloist with The Royal Ballet, presented a
seminar on a new ballet syllabus written by Dame Margot Fonteyn. Finding the RAD
training very exciting, Mimi studied intensively with Mary Conmee (one of the founders
of the American branch of the Royal Academy) and passedthe exams for
membership. In 1979 Mimi was certified as a member of Dance Masters of America
and completed DMA's Teachers' Training School in a three-year course of study.
Mimi has maintained her Continuing Education credits on a yearly basis ever since.
She is also a member of the Professional Dancers Society.
Dance Masters of America is an international organization of chapters of dance
teachers, certified by test to teach. Mimi is a past president of Dance Masters of
California and Parliamentarian, having served on the DMC board of directors since
1982. She is also on the examination committee for new members. Mimi has sat on
the National Board of Directors for Dance Masters of America as the DMC delegate
for many years, is a nationally certified examiner of new members and serves as an
adjudicator of competitions throughout the country. Mimi was elected the National
2nd Vice President of DMA in the summer of 2002 and became National President in
2006.
An advocate for theatre in both the schools and community, Mimi has choreographed
countless musicals for Antioch Junior High, Antioch High School, Pittsburg Christian
Center School, the Methodist Youth Group touring company, and Antioch Repertory
Theatre (formerly APAG). In 1999, she was nominated for a Shellie Award for her
choreography of "You're A Good Man , Charlie Brown."
Raising scholarship money for higher education has been the community outreach
goal of Doreen's School of the Dance for many years. The range of recipients eligible
now includes Antioch High, Deer Valley High and Prospects High seniors, reaching
many more students than ever before. Mimi continues to produce the highest quality
dance recitals to fund these scholarships.
Mimi has three lovely daughters. Kymm has a B.A. in Dance, performed with Limon 2
Dance Company and is currently the General Manager of Courtside Athletic Club and
Spa in Los Gatos. Leslie holds a degree in Elementary Education and teaching
credential and is on staff at Mno Grant Elementary teaching third grade. Christi has a
B.A. in Dance, Social Science and a teaching credential. After building the dance
program at Deer Valley High, and Eagle Rock High in Los Angeles. She currently
teaches a full schedule of dance classes at Millikin, an arts magnet middle school in
Pasadena and dances for Disney. All three have taught on the faculty of Doreen's
School of the Dance, proudly making it a three generation studio! Mimi is married to
Lorin White, one of Antioch Unified School District's most respected music teachers.
Lorin is now on staff at Prospects High School.