In the heart of Tamworth, along the stretch of Peel Street, something remarkable is emerging. What began as a building renovation has evolved into a powerful artistic statement that celebrates the journey of our dancers and embodies the core values that define Tamworth City Dance Academy, Painted by TCDA Director Paul Singh.
Reclaiming Our Space, Celebrating Our Own
When TCDA moved into our new home at 184 Peel Street in 2022, we were presented with a blank canvas—not just for dance, but for a vision that would transform the building into something uniquely ours. While many studios adorn their walls with images of professional dancers from distant cities or stock art, we made a deliberate choice to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our own students.
This is our town, our building, and most importantly, these are our students. The young women featured in these works have earned their place through years of dedication, perseverance, and embodying the values we champion at TCDA.
This approach reflects our longstanding practice of professionally photographing our own students rather than importing inspiration from elsewhere. It sends a powerful message to younger dancers: excellence is cultivated right here in Tamworth, and through commitment to their craft, they too can achieve recognition.
The Faces of Empowerment
Each mural tells a different story of female strength and confidence.
The first completed mural, standing an impressive 5 meters high by 6 meters wide in our foyer, features three of our troupe dancers standing shoulder to shoulder. Their heads are lowered to display the TCDA logos on their uniform caps—a symbol of pride in their team and training ground. These former students continue to embody TCDA's ethos even after moving on to university and professional careers, starting with us as children and leaving as adults with one having served as a senior troupe captain.
The second mural, visible to passersby on Peel Street, portrays our inaugural troupe captain, Abbey. Photographed around 2014, she reclines confidently in a black tutu and pointe shoes, her gaze directed downward at viewers—poised, assured, and commanding respect without seeking approval. At approximately 10 meters wide, this piece has become a landmark that enhances our streetscape.
The most recent addition features TCDA Head Teacher "Miss Lily," strategically positioned under security lighting that mimics the spotlight from the original performance photograph. Tipping her top hat and blowing a kiss, this mural transforms dramatically from day to night. As another former senior troupe captain, Lily represents both artistic excellence and leadership capability.
The Process: From Lens to Wall
I am first and foremost a photographer, not a painter. My journey into large-scale murals has been one of experimentation and continuous learning. The process begins with photographs I've taken of our dancers over the years—authentic moments that capture the essence of what we've built at TCDA.
My technique involves reducing these images from millions of colours to simplified blocks that can be projected and traced onto our building. For each mural, I project the simplified image onto the wall at night, carefully tracing the outlines before beginning the painting process. What's fascinating about working at this scale is that when you're standing inches from the wall, applying paint to concrete blocks, you really have no idea what you're creating. You have to trust the process.
I keep the original image on my iPad nearby for reference, and toward the end of each project, I add small embellishments and details that bring the figure to life. Each mural increases in complexity as I learn more about this particular style, including perspective at scale, and the peculiarities of painting on textured surfaces. The first mural used only about 8 colours in large blocks, while "Abbey" incorporated around 14 different tones, creating more subtle gradients and dimension.
After a few more of these projects, I may feel confident enough to actually start calling myself a painter. For now, I'm enjoying the challenge of translating photographic moments into monumental celebrations of our dancers.
More Than Images: A Philosophy Made Visible
These aren't simply decorative elements—they're a physical manifestation of TCDA's commitment to developing the whole person through dance education.
What these young women represent is the inherent power that all women possess. These murals celebrate the confidence that comes from setting and achieving goals, from being worthy mentors, from maintaining humility while excelling, and from contributing to something larger than oneself.
In a world where young people—particularly young women—face unprecedented pressures, TCDA has intentionally created an environment where students can develop not just as dancers, but as confident, capable individuals. Our studio space is designed as a safe haven where dancers can grow stronger physically, emotionally, socially, and artistically.
The Continuing Story
This artistic journey is far from complete. I've already planned the next three elements in this evolving monument to female empowerment. As a 100% self-funded initiative completed outside business hours, these murals represent a labor of love—a testament to TCDA's belief in the transformative power of dance education and artistic expression.
The community's response has been overwhelmingly positive, with passersby stopping to admire the work and students feeling a sense of pride in their academy's visual presence in Tamworth. Each new addition creates anticipation about which TCDA dancer might next be immortalised on our walls.
A Legacy of Strength
At TCDA, we're building more than dancers—we're developing strong, successful, confident adults. While this commitment extends to all our students regardless of gender, we recognise dance's unique position as a field where women are well-represented and have tremendous potential for leadership and personal growth.
These murals stand as a bold statement about the values we cultivate: self-assurance without arrogance, technical excellence paired with emotional intelligence, and the power of community to elevate individual achievement.
We invite you to visit our Peel Street studio to view these remarkable artworks in person and learn more about TCDA's approach to dance education—one that honours technical excellence while nurturing the character and confidence that will serve our students throughout their lives.
For more information about TCDA's programs, visit www.tamworthcitydance.com.au or contact our Principal directly at kellie@tamworthcitydance.com.au.
Comments