Dance Coaches 2022-2023
KARLIE WILLIAMS - HEAD COACH, PERFORMANCE
MIMI PELIO - ASSISTANT COACH, PERFORMANCE
VANESSA MERCADO - HEAD COACH, COMPETITION
Vanessa Mercado is an SDSU graduate who has always had a love and
passion for dancing at the young
age of 2 years old. She was a trained competitive dancer for 15 years where she won various high point and title awards. She went on to become a dance teacher and instructor at the studio she grew up dancing at under the direction of Kristi Fair. She is on Song/Pom staff with United Spirit Association where she travels teaching dance camps and workshops to students of all ages, levels, backgrounds. In her first year coaching at Del Norte, she has led the competition dance team to their best season to date, with the competition team bringing back overall placements for all of their routines, as well as bring back two Group National Championships and 3 Solo Championships. She loves being able to work with students and share her love and passion for dance, just as her teachers did for her.