HENLEY-ON-KLIP (South Africa) - OPRAH Winfrey sat rapt on Friday in the front row of the state-of-the-art theater during a show put on by the poor girls she has built an exclusive school for.

The talk show host clapped enthusiastically, tapped her foot during a musical item and had a warm hug for one young girl who recited an essay she wrote describing her broken poverty-stricken family and her desire to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

The girls were treated to acting classes by British actress Thandie Newton and learnt about art and design from Greg Lauren, nephew of American fashion designer Ralph.

The festival included dance classes, photography workshops, and even cooking sessions with Art Smith, Winfrey's former personal chef.

Newton said she was inspired by the talent and enthusiasm of the girls. 'Their tenacity, their enthusiasm, their ability has just surpassed all of my expectations, I have had an amazing time,' she said.

During the week's festivities, the girls got a chance to show their rhythm in rap classes with a popular South African musician and learnt the art of storytelling from the legendary African storyteller Gcina Mhlope.

In the finale of Friday's ceremony, the audience cheered when a group of girls donned Wellington boots for a raucous performance of gumboot dancing. Gumboot dancing - where performers rhythmically slap and stamp their feet - is a form of dance made popular by workers at South Africa's many mines.

The theme of this year's festival was about creating a greater awareness of the environment through recyclable art. The girls made radios fashioned from recycled wire, graceful vases from recycled paper and brightly colored flowers cut from discarded plastic bottles.

The lavish US$40 million (S$58 million) Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, outside Johannesburg was opened in January 2007.

It is the fulfillment of a promise she made to Nelson Mandela and aims to give girls from deprived backgrounds a quality education in a country where schools are struggling to overcome the legacy of apartheid. The school is home to about 300 girls from across the country. -- AP