The Joyce Schneider Auditorium pays homage to a dedicated supporter of the performing arts who has touched thousands of lives as a dancer, singer, teacher and theatre producer.

Mrs Schneider established Dubbo Ballet Studio in 1934 and nurtured aspiring dancers for more than 70 years.

She was a founding member of Dubbo Theatrical Society and received an Order of Australia medal in recognition of entertainment provided to army and air force personnel stationed in the Dubbo district during World War II.

Mrs Schneider was born Bettina Joyce Little at Boggabri in 1914.

Always known as Joyce, she relocated to Sydney with her parents at age four and was immediately enrolled in the prestigious Minnie Hooper Ballet Academy.

Ms Hooper was THE ballet teacher in Sydney and one of the older boys in the school was Robert Helpmann, who went on to become an internationally acclaimed dancer, actor, theatre director and choreographer.

Mrs Schneider enjoyed broad dance training, including classical ballet, tap and modern (then called eccentric dance).

She made her first professional appearance at age seven in pantomime.

With a lovely soprano voice, she was in demand as a singer and dancer and took part in JC Williamson theatre productions.

When Mrs Schneider’s parents moved to Dubbo the then teenaged Joyce remained in Sydney for much of the time maintaining her performance career.

In 1931 there was great excitement when JC Williamson brought the international stars and directors of ‘Seasons of the Opera’ to Australia.

More than 2000 Australians auditioned for the chorus and Joyce, aged 17, stood out in the final cut of 30.

She received vocal training from choirmaster Joseph Post who later received a knighthood for his role as conductor of Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

By her early 20s Joyce had enormous singing, dance and opera experience and when time allowed returned to Dubbo to take part in local theatre productions.

On one visit home a scheduled performance appeared in doubt when her duet partner was unavailable.

Dubbo district farmer Victor Schneider, a violinist with a rich baritone voice, stepped in at the last minute.

They sang We Will Always Be Sweethearts and fell in love.

Joyce gave up her metropolitan singing and dancing career and moved to Dubbo to marry.

She opened the Joyce Schneider School of Dancing, which later became known as Dubbo Ballet Studio.

When her husband died in 1985 Mrs Schneider devoted even more time to young performers.

By age 76 she was starting to feel burnt out and decided to retire.

A former student took over the studio and Joyce stayed on as a teacher.

Through a succession of owners Mrs Schneider remained involved until 2008.

During her 70th year as a ballet teacher in Dubbo Mrs Schneider was honoured by the Royal Academy of Dancing in London.

She was thrilled to receive the president’s award - one of only three awarded in the world each year.

For Mrs Schneider it was “more of a kick” than receiving the OAM.

Now approaching her 97th birthday, Mrs Schneider still lives independently in her home, with the help of her daughters.

She maintains a keen interest in the performing arts.