Lisa Nicholas Kandel

Lisa Nicholas Kandel was born and raised in St. Louis. At age 6 she started ballet lessons with her father, Michael Simms. As a young girl Lisa studied at Michael Simms Academy. When the St. Louis Dance Theater was formed, she performed in the classics Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty at the Kiel Opera House.

At the age of 12 Lisa was accepted at the National Ballet of Canada where she studied for two years working with world famous teachers, including Rudolph Nureyev. Lisa continued her studies in St. Louis with her father and danced in many organized ballets, including Dvorak and Prokofiev. She was also a principal dancer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado for three summers.

In 1977-78 Lisa traveled and performed at the Cork Opera House in Cork County, Ireland. Upon her return she joined the Festival Ballet of Rhode Island as a founding member. Under Winthrop Corey and Christine Hennessy she was fortunate enough to work with Arthur Mitchell of New York City Ballet, Mary Jago of of National Ballet Canada and Francesa Corkle of Joffrey.

Lisa has taught extensively throughout the St. Louis area, at Festival Ballet and Simms Academy. Lisa joined the Dance Center in 2003 as a classic ballet teacher for middle and high school students. She also teaches advanced summer intensives and is ballet mistress for the Dance Center annual Nutcracker.