Born in Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada, she was a sickly child, and began taking dance lessons at the age of twelve.Ê Eventually, her studies took her to the famed San Francisco Ballet Co. Her first Broadway performance was in 1947 in Finian's Rainbow. Then came Guys and Dolls when she performed and assisted the choreographer, Michael Kidd. Their association lasted through various productions until, in 1956, she choreographed her first Broadway show, Carmen Jones. The rest is literally history. She has received eight Tony nominations for such shows as, The Music Man, Irma La Douce, Bye, Bye Birdie, Mame and a score of others. Her films include THE MUSIC MAN (1962), BYE BYE BIRDIE (1963), 1776 (1972), THE GREAT WALTZ (1972), MAME (1974) and OLIVER! for which Miss White received a special Academy Award for her choreography. To date (2007), the Academy has handed out only two Oscars® for outstanding choreography: The first to Jerome Robbins for WEST SIDE STORY (1961), and then to Miss White for OLIVER! (1968).  Honorary and Other Awards 1968: For her outstanding choreography achievement for OLIVER! Winner presented a Statuette. 1 Honorary Award