 After high school, Mika became a hairdresser in the small suburb of Spreydon, Christchurch; however, after winning New Zealand Flash Dance Championships he quit his job and opened up his own dance studio, Miyake Dance Studio at Peterborough Arts Centre.In 1982, Mika moved to Los Angeles with his African American Navy boyfriend for nine months before eventually returning to New Zealand.Mika moved to Christchurch in 1984 and attended New Zealand School of Dance in 1985, left the school nine months later due to lack of Maori content in the course.