Our Staff

STUDIO OWNER:

DONNA WHITE
As the Matriarch of Dance Legacy, Donna White has over 30 years of experience teaching all forms of dance. Former students have gone on to pursue professional careers in various dance venues: from Disney to Cruise Lines... and from Ballet to Modern Companies to Cheerleading. Donna is currently Dance Legacy's Office Manager and can be reached most days during studio hours with any questions or concerns.

DIRECTOR:

DAWN BANDY
After graduating from Brownsburg High School, Dawn Bandy became a professional dancer at Hubbard Street Dance in Chicago. As a well rounded professional with a strong classical background, Dawn brings her personal style and valuable experience to Dance Legacy where she teaches all levels and fields of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, musical theater, tumbling, and hip-hop. Dawn’s early performing experiences included the starring role of "Clara" for Butler University's production of "The Nutcracker Suite". She has also performed with The Indianapolis Ballet Theater in several local and area productions. Dawn has attended dance programs at Boston Ballet, Aspen Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet; and at age 12, traveled with a well known dance convention, Dance Caravan Production, where she assisted and taught various forms of dance while performing as a guest artist in the "Dance Caravan Production Show". In 1994, Dawn had the honor of representing Indianapolis as “Miss Indianapolis Teen”. In more recent years, as a judge and instructor for various local, state, and national dance competitions and conventions, Dawn traveled extensively sharing her skill and technique with other dancers across the country. Her dance students have received top honors at many nationally renown dance competitions where her choreography has also been recognized and awarded with highest honors. In 2004, Dawn received an invitation to perform in China where she, her students, and her choreography were showcased in several stage performances. Dawn and her daughter DaeLynn, currently live together in Brownsburg, Indiana, where she now remains close to Dance Legacy. As the Artistic Director of Dance Legacy, Dawn brings an unparalleled dedication to achieving excellence for her students and the studio and looks forward to making Dance Legacy a true legacy of dance for all.

OFFICE MANAGER:

NICOLE KALINOWSKI
Nicole ("Coach") Kalinowski graduated from Cathedral High School in 1995 and was a member of the Indiana Dance Ambassadors. She attended Marion College for 2 years and was an “All American” Cheerleader. She also attended the Worcester School of Performing Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, before beginning her coaching career while attending the University of Indianapolis. As a NCA All American, Nicole judges pom and cheer competitions nationwide and has extensive experience choreographing cheer and gymnastics floor routines. With over 15 years of coaching experience, Nicole was formerly Dance Legacy's tumbling instructor and also Head Coach of Dance Legacy's competitive cheer program. Nicole now oversees the administrative and managerial functions for the Dance Legacy studio.

INSTRUCTORS:

JESSICA STATES
Jessica ("Jess") States grew up on the dance scene in St Louis, Missouri. With more than 25 years of dance training, Jess' specialties include lyrical, jazz, and musical theater. Extensive experience at New York’s Broadway Dance Center and LA’s Edge have given Jess many opportunities to stay with the cutting edge of dance styles. Jess comes to Dance Legacy with 16 years of performing, teaching, and choreography experience and has been on staff at many other successful nationally-recognized studios. Her students have won many regional, national, and international titles; and some have gone on to obtain agents performing professionally both nationally and around the world. Jess has also been a guest teacher and choreographer at many top-ranked studios where she has shared her love of dance and passion for teaching. When not in the classroom, Jess travels with many national competition organizations as an adjudicator for the nation’s top talent. At a young age, Jess was asked to assist one of the many choreographers for the RAMS cheerleaders. Her performing credits include Alice Cooper’s "Brutal Planet" (where she was honored as Dance Captain), Six Flags Theme Parks, and many regional theater productions. Academically, Jess studied Psychology at Southern Illinois University and now makes a home with her husband and baby girl.

MIMI PRIEST
Mimi Priest holds a B.A. and M.A. in Dance from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Mrs. Priest danced professionally with the Louisville Ballet and has now been teaching for more than 30 years. Mimi has taught all levels of ballet and some specialty movement classes including pre-school creative movement; although her focus is primarily concentrated on training pre-professional dancers. A highly talented and dedicated teacher and choreographer, Mimi has created original choreography for children’s ballet productions including "Peter Pan", "Little Orphan Annie", "The Wizard of Oz", and "Alice in Wonderland".  She has also mounted many classical ballets including "Les Sylphides", "Raymonda", and "Pas de Quatre".  Mimi is a locally and nationally known dance technician, with a history of facilitating students into becoming professional dancers. Mimi’s unique teaching style motivates and inspires every student she teaches. She and her husband, David, have 3 sons and live in Geist - an area just outside of Indianapolis. Dance Legacy is proud to have Mrs. Priest as part of their instruction team.

KATIE WHITE
Katie White has enjoyed dancing since the age of 2. She is a graduate of Marion College with degrees in Musical Theatre, Communication, and Elementary Education. Katie is trained in tap, jazz, ballet, and gymnastics; and has competed in numerous local and national dance competitions. She has been honored with many awards throughout her career, has appeared in the off-Broadway tap production “Break the Floor”, and enjoys choreographing for show choirs and theaters in the Indianapolis area. Katie's advanced tap technique is a great contribution to Dance Legacy's fully-rounded dance program, and we are excited that she is now an integral part of the Dance Legacy family.

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KRISTIN KOVACIK
Kristin Kovacik started dancing at 5 years old and was a member of a competitive dance company by the age of 7. She performed numerous styles of dance over the next 13 years including tap, jazz, ballet, and lyrical. As a competitor, Kristin was awarded many high point awards for group as well as solo dance performances.  Kristin graduated from Brownsburg High School in 2000 and went on to pursue a career in nursing.  She is now an award winning choreographer and has choreographed many productions professionally; including the opening number for the Miss Indianapolis Teen Pageant in both 2001 and 2002. In 2003, Kristin decided to focus all her efforts on her nursing education, which meant a pause from the dance world. Kristin graduated with a B.A. from the I.U. School of Nursing in 2004, and has specialized in surgical nursing for more than 5 years. Currently, she is a Nurse Manager for the Surgery and Endoscopy areas at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis. Dance has always been a passion for Kristin, and the joy she receives from teaching brought her back to the art in 2009 as a valued Dance Legacy instructor.

SENSEI JIM and SENSEI STEVE
Sensei Jim is the Director of the Legacy Self-Defense Program. Together with Sensei Steve, both men educate and motivate each student in the art of Self-Defense. Both Senseis hold 5th-degree black belts and can boast more than 50 years of combined experience. In their Self-Defense classes, the Senseis instruct students to respect authority, instill self-confidence to defend themselves if necessary, teach physical and mental alertness, and strive to assist students in finding a healthy balance in there lives. The main goal of the Legacy Self-Defense Program is to promote physical fitness, tone the body and gain muscle, and have fun!!  Both Senseis also believe that a good work out will also act as a stress reliever and encourage all students to stay healthy and physically fit. Self-Defense gives each student self-confidence, self-discipline, mental alertness, and respect for both themselves and for authority. The Senseis motivate each student to higher achievement, not only in matters of Self-Defense, but in all aspects of life.