A STAGE school which faced extinction has come back from the brink to hold a successful stage show.

Stage Plus School of Performing Arts in Princes Risborough has been running for more than 30 years.

But earlier this year it lost the use of its regular dance studio and due to finances was concerned it would not be able to continue.

It has now pulled through and the performing arts group takes place at halls and schools in the town.

There was an annual end of year show at The Elgiva in Chesham with the 60 students.

Principal, Gemma Tanswell, said: "It was a big graduation show for a lot of our seniors who are off to uni in September.

"A lot of them have been dancing with us since they were three or four."

The show was based on the school year taking in harvest, Christmas, Easter and more, and finishing with a graduation.

Gemma, 31, said: "It went really well. It was really rather emotional as you can imagine."

And she said she was very proud as the show has proved the school can come back fighting.

Gemma, who lives in High Wycombe, said: "Because of the recession our numbers have dropped. It got to the point where we couldn't afford to have our studio any more.

"We were looking at every possibility.

"I haven't been able to pay myself for years. It is all done our of love.

"There was a point there was a chance we wouldn't be able to run."

Gemma is holding a summer school from August 4, then it is classes as normal from September.

As well as running the school, she works at a pre-school part time and looks after her son, Beau, who is 18-months-old.

She added: "It has been really difficult at times. Most of the time it has been a fabulous experience.

"All the kids are great. I wouldn't change it. My husbands says to me, 'You don't get paid much. Do you want to do a nine to five job?'

"It is for the love of it."

Go to www.stageplus.co.uk.