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Principal Character Artists

Joy Baker
Joy Baker (shown as The Queen in "The Sleeping Beauty"), a Saint Louis Ballet Alumni, began dancing at the age of 4 and continued her dancing and teaching career with the Metropolitan Ballet of St.Louis under the guidance of Nathalie Levine and Gary Hubler in 1974. In the early 80’s Joy danced on full scholarship at School of American Ballet and studied in the summers with Pennslyvania Ballet and Ballet West. She then came back to her home town to start her own Ballet School in 1983. Joy taught and danced Professionally with the St.Louis Ballet directed by Anthony Zalewski and Ludmila Dokoudovsky. She then was hired to direct and teach Ballet at The Principia College. Since 2004 she has been teaching privately in her own studio, at Stages St. Luois and Saint Louis Ballet School. Joy is married and has 3 children.

Octavio Nieto
Octavio Nieto (shown as Rothbart in "Swan Lake"), former principal of Saint Louis Ballet, is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico. He studied a variety of dance styles including Mexican folklore, Spanish/Flamenco, tap, jazz, ballroom, and modern. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dancing in London, as well as the American Ballet Cener (Joffrey Ballet School), David Howard Studio, and the New York Conservatory of Dance. While at Mexico?s national dance company, C.N.D./Inba (then under the supervision of Alicia Alonso), he was taught by teachers from many different countries including France, Russia, England, the United States, and Argentina. Nieto-Jacobo has taught in a variety of cities throughout the U.S. and Mexico and has been an instructor in the Missouri Folk Arts Program. Nieto-Jacobo was also part of the jury in the Certamen Internacional Para Latinoamerica y El Caribe, an international dance competion. Mr. Nieto joined Saint Louis Ballet in 1998 and danced many principal roles throughout his career as a dancer as well as serving as Assistant Ballet Master for the company.

Lisa Wolfsberger
Lisa Wolfsberger (shown as Carabosse in "The Sleeping Beauty"), a Saint Louis Ballet Alumni, began her ballet training with Alexandria Zaharias. Lisa is an original principal member of St. Louis Ballet. Under the direction of SLB founders, Ludmila Dokoudovsky and Antoni Zalewski, some of her most memorable roles include those in Paquita, La Bayadere, Weber Piano Concerto, Pigtails, Graduation Ball, and The Nutcracker. While dancing professionally, Lisa worked toward her B.A. in Dance at Webster University. She has been teaching for 29 years and after marrying and moving to and from England, she is thrilled to be home. She is proud to be a catalyst for Saint Louis Ballet, where she is currently teaching in the school.