At the conclusion of the final community dance concert for the Western Studio of Performing Arts, its principal Angie White quipped that if she added up all the time she had been teaching dance to young people in Nyngan, Cobar and Tottenham it would amount to 63-years.

In reality, it was 29 years in Nyngan which coincided with 21 years in Cobar and 13 years in Tottenham – for many years travelling to all three towns every week to teach ballet, tap, jazz, Irish and everything in between to children as young as two right through to adults well into their retirement.

Last week Angie finally tugged the curtain closed on her popular dance school after a finale concert titled The Greatest Show at the Nyngan Town Hall. A week prior she also farewelled Tottenham.

The idea to start a dance studio stemmed from a conversation at a cake stall where Angie, who was helping out, listened as a customer lamented the lack of ballet lessons in Nyngan.

“I was trying to sell her one of my cupcakes with orange icing but ended up starting a dance studio instead - and taking the cupcakes home!”

“From that time on I was blessed with the most amazing adventure anyone would ever wish to go on, with the most beautiful kids and families.”

Little Tottenham superstars in action in November 2022 [Image: Supplied]

The Western Studio of Performing Arts had become an institution in Nyngan, with at least two generations having passed through. For years it was based at the Palais Theatre in Nyngan where a front room served as a youth hang out, whilst Angie taught children as young as two the principles of dance.

At the end of the year there was always a community concert which featured all of her students in increasingly elaborate costumes. 

At first these were made by parents who would bring their sewing machines to rehearsals and create costumes on the spot. In more recent years there have been opportunities to buy kit online.

Angie calculated the WSPA community concerts and class fundraisers raised $120,000 over those 29 years, all of which was donated back into the community to help young people.

Some Solo/Duo's Dancers after their concert on December 2022 Image: Supplied

The WSPA Studio was also one to grab every opportunity and Angie led her students and their families on plenty of adventures.

“We travelled to London and Paris Disneyland where we had our own 20-minute show in front of hundreds of people. We ventured to LA and took part in the Main Street Parade at Disneyland which had an estimated 100,000 people watching as well as being invited to dance in a world dance exhibition which included 12 other nations,” she said.

“We danced at Universal Studios and the bush kids shone like superstars. We successfully auditioned Nyngan High school kids to take part in the opening ceremony of the Pacific School games with 5000 kids taking part and most excitingly the Closing Ceremony of the 2000 Olympics.”

“We took kids to School Spectacular- Eisteddfods - touring shows and a performance in Sydney with Glenn Wood at his famous Tap Studio. We took them to Musicals in Sydney and on excursions for Workshops We did everything we could to give them opportunities that come easily to city kids.”

Angie says WSPA helped her make lifelong friends and gave her a love and passion not unlike that she has for her own family.

“I gave my all and then some and the honour was most definitely mine.”

“At this final concert we celebrated what was, and what is. For me I celebrated the beautiful children I have been gifted to teach because all every child wants in life is to be loved and treated with kindness and I know above all else I have done that.”

"When you stop in the middle of a dance for a bit of a chat" Image: Supplied

There were many final tributes to Angie from her students past and present.

Kristy Sheather was a WSPA student and her four daughters were in the final concert.

“Not just a dance teacher or a dance studio. It’s been so much more. Thankyou Angie for all of the memories that myself and my girls will hold very close to our hearts for the rest of our lives,” she said.

Annabelle Kennedy thanked Angie for bringing so much joy to her ballerina daughter over the past three years.

Jen Webster was another past student who was able to bring her own daughters to dance lessons.

“Angie White you should be proud of what you have accomplished and the light you have brought to so many lives,” she said.

“I hold many memories in my heart that only seem like we shared yesterday and I’m so grateful that you shared special moments with my children too.”

Angie is also a talented photographer and writer, and contributes regularly to the Western Plains App.