The Australian Dancing Society was founded in 1942. Many of the prominent names in dancing today started with Mickey Powell whose headquarters at 79 Bourke Street Melbourne, became the meeting place. Mascotte Powell, (Mickey’s much loved only sister), recalls with a great deal of pride, the efforts of the establishment in Great Britain to entice Mickeyaway from Australia. He was agreat entrepreneur and very muchbefore his time in the dancing initiatives he introduced.

Mickey Powell as a young man was apprenticed to his uncle as a hairdresser. He was a great sportsman with a particular love of cricket. However, dancing became his passion. It was Mickey’s desire to foster and encourage Australians to develop a uniquely Australian style - to lift the profile of Australian dancers. The first team travelled to England by sea in 1948. Alf Davies and Julie Reaby were members of that team. They went on of course to become World Champions. They remain the only Australians to have won the British Professional Modern Championship (twice). Mickey encouraged them never to lose their Australian style.

His industry and encouragement really set an agenda for the future and the development of the Australian Dancing Society. His whole life was dedicated to furthering ballroom dancing nationally and internationally. He was only 18 years of age when he set out on his journey. He twiced mortgaged his home in order to take teams away to represent Australia. Although there was always speculation that he was a man of wealth, this was not so. Love of dancing was his addiction.

Award for excellence

He received the Carl Alan Award from Dame Margot Fonteyn for his contribution to ballroom dancing. This was the first time the award was made to someone outside England. Alf Davies and Julie Reaby followed his example and they were also awarded the Carl Alan Award in 1956. It was by the encouragement of the late Alex Moore that Mickey Powell was instrumental in setting up the Australian Dancing Board of Control (now the Australian Dancing Board). It was planned to be an interim measure.

The Australian Dancing Society was the first organization that was invited to be a member body of the International Council of Ballroom Dancing (now the
World Dance and DanceSport Council). The late Frank South represented the ADS at this meeting. Dances were conducted pre war at the Palais de Dance on a Saturday night and always to a‘live’ band. During the war years social dances especially for the services were conducted on a Sunday afternoon. Kevin Gibson recalls the promotion of the Australian Championship when Mickey hired an open tray truck which carried a live band up Bourke Street during the lunch break with Kevin Gibson and Shirley Saunderson and Fred and Terry Jenyns dancing behind in full dress to attract media interest.

The development of the Australian Dancing Society continued so that dancing in this country could prosper. A comprehensive medal system was established whereby the recreational dancers could gauge their progress. School programs were facilitated at schools such as Richmond Technical School. Teaching accreditation and a board of examiners was established complimented by seminars, monthly competitions, and social events which were regular happenings at 79 Bourke Street.

Dancing on the move

The Australian Ballroom Championship was initially conducted at the Melbourne Town Hall. It was in 1948 that Alf Davies and Julie Reaby won the Professional
Modern title. It is their trophy that in 2002 will be presented to the winner of the Junior Standard. A wonderful incentive for our younger generation. In 1955 Mickey Powell and Bon Gibbins joined forces to conduct the Sun Ballroom Dancing Championship. Mickey and Bon were the undisputed leaders in the
industry. The Sun offered significant financial support and ballroom dancing featured regularly in the Sun newspaper.

World focus

In 1962 Mickey Powell and the Australian Dancing Society were granted the rights to stage the World Professional Championship in Melbourne at Festival Hall. This was the first time a World Professional Championship was awarded outside England. Many of the World’s best competed – the famous Bill and Bobbie Irvine, Laird and Lorraine, Bob Burgess and Doreen Freeman, Kevin Gibson and Shirley Saunderson to name a few. Bill and Bobbie Irvine took out the World Championship Modern title. Laird and Lorraine were just too good in the Latin.

Latin American was new to the dancing scene in Australia. Our Australian champions were required to learn the style from a text book to be able to take part.
The Festival Hall in West Melbourne witnessed some of the world’s best in action. Jim Gussey and the ABC Orchestra provided the music. The Old Time Championship Orchestra, under the leadership of Billy Day, was also in action.

In 1967 Melbourne and the Australian Dancing Society again hosted the World Professional Championship. Again there was live music - Ted Simpson and the
World Championship Band played. The stadium was packed. Bill & Bobbie Irvine (UK) were again successful in the Modern. Rudi & Mechtild Traust (Germany) won the Latin.

After the death of Mickey Powell in 1967 his wife Myra continued with his work. She moved the headquarters of the Australian Dancing Society and the
Mickey Powell School of Dancing to Fred Jenyns studio in Elizabeth Street in an attempt to lessen the load.

In 1968 the Australian Championship moved again, this time to the Broadmeadows Town Hall. Theatrical and Exhibition dancing were included in the program.
However by 1970 the work became too much for Myra to handle. Sandy Robinson from Queensland expressed interest in taking over the Australian Dancing Society and moving its headquarters to Queensland.

The two Freds

Fred Jenyns and Fred Barber negotiated with Myra Powell and it was at this time the ADS became a limited company and was handed back to the industry. Professionals were invited to become members and play an active role in the future development of the Society. Fred Jenyns became Chairman and Fred Barber elected President to continue the work of the founder. Fred Barber opened his own studio at Broadmeadows in 1965 and continued his work to further develop the Australian Dancing Society until his sudden death in 1982.

Fred Jenyns pressed on and became the ADS President. Jack McPherson was appointed Chairman. Jack has served the Society and dancing well over a long period
with a particular emphasis to Old Time (now known as New Vogue).

So in 1983 a site inspection took place at the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre (The Glasshouse). The cost was considered to be significant,
but a move was necessary to take the Society and the Australian Championship forward.

The Glasshouse era

In 1983 the first Australian Championship was conducted at the “Glasshouse”. Fred Jenyns, Neil Rosenfeld, Bob Courts, Maureen McCabe and Margaret
Lonsdale were involved in this transition. It was at this time Margaret Lonsdale commenced her endeavours under the Australian Dancing Society
banner to have ballroom dancing recognised as a sport in Victoria. This was achieved in 1986. Recognition was granted by the Department of Sport and Recreation, and other States followed.

A new era had begun.

In 1986 the constitution of the ADS was amended with the approval of the membership. Meetings were conducted in all States of Australia by the Executive
Officer, Margaret Lonsdale. Branches were established with their own autonomy. The activities of the Society were now promoted actively throughout Australia and the profits used to further the development of dancing within each State. Membership continued to grow.

National television was secured in 1990.

The recent years

The Glasshouse was to remain the home of the Australian Championship until 1999. In 2000 it moved across the road to the newly completed Vodafone Arena, a
magnificent venue offering outstanding facilities for the competitors. Fortunately, the Championship had by now attracted corporate sponsorship, which had become a necessity to meet the increased costs of staging the championship.

Tony Charlton was actively involved in the development of the event and has played a major role in securing attractive corporate support. He recognised immediately that the ADS had a great product to market. The Australian Dancing Society, through its membership played a significant role in the development of DanceSport Australia. An Agreement between the two organisations ensured that the Austrlian DanceSport Championship would be the event that selected
Australia’s representatives for all International DanceSport Federation World Championship.

In 2002 the ADS joined forces with DanceSport Australia and the Government of Victoria in securing the IDSF World Ten Dance Championship. This Australian DanceSport Championship, the flagship in the ADS fleet, became part of the festival of dance expanding from the 7-12 December, 2004. In 2003 the first IDSF Open events were held enabling couples to gain full ranking points for their participation in the Open Latin.

The History of the organisation will continue with the next generation continuing the work. The ADS is commited to lifting the profile of dancesport
and the opportunites for people involved in the sport. And so the ADS, strong and colourful in its history celebrates another chapter in the development of the Australian DanceSport Championship through its participation in the IDSF World Ten Dance Championship.

The Australian Dancing Society (ADS):

Contributions to Australian dancing by the ADS include the following tours:

1948-1961 Professional Teams to England and Europe
1962 Official World Professional Championships - Melbourne
1963 Team to tour Japan
1967 Team to SE Asia and Japan
1967 Official World Professional Championships - Melbourne
1969 Team to SE Asia Professional Championships in Japan
1970 Offical tour of Robert and Helen Richey
1978 Professional Team to England
1980 Inaugural Brolga Awards
1984 Ken and Marion Welsh
1985 Alan and Hazel Fletcher
1986 Richard and Janet Gleave
1987 John Wood and Anne Lewis - Larry and Kerry Clarke
1988 Wilson Barbera and Margaret Burns
1989 Jason Gilkison and Peta Roby
1990 David Sycamore and Denise Weavers
1991 Marcus and Karen Hilton
1992 Jean Marc Genereaux and France Mousseau
1993 Johan and Nadia Eftedal
1994 John Wood and Anne Lewis
1995 Dance Liaison - David Sycamore & Denise Weavers - Denis & Adele Tremblay
1996 Jason Gilkison & Peta Roby
1997 David & Leslie Elkin & the Braunschweig Formation Team
1998 Bryan Watson & Karen Hardy
1999 Jukka Haapalainen & Sirpa Suutari
2000 Massimo Giorgianni and Alessia Manfredini
2001 Michael Wentink & Beata
2002 Alan & Donna Shingler
2003 Paul Killick & Hanna Karttunen
2004 Tattersall's IDSF World Ten Dance Championship - Melbourne
2004 Jason Roditis & Tonia Kosovich
2005 Mirko Gozzolli & Alessia Betti
2006 Victor & Hanna
2007 Peter Stokkebroe & Kristina Juel-Stokkebroe
2008 Tattersall's IDSF World Latin Championship - Melbourne

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History Professional Modern/Latin

Cedric Meers, winner in 1966 of the Modern Australian title, was responsible for this table in history. We thank him very much.

Australian Modern Professional Champions
1945 Frank South & Muriel Watts
1946 Jack & Joyce Bosley
1947 Jack & Joyce Bosley
1948 Alf Davies & Julie Reaby
1949 Jack & Joyce Bosley
1950 Jack & Joyce Bosley
1951 Alf Davies & Julie Reaby
1952 Kevin Gibson & Barbara Lee
1953 Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1954 Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1955 Arthur & Linda Cornwell
1956 Arthur & Linda Cornwell and Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1957 Arthur & Linda Cornwell and Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1958 Arthur & Linda Cornwell
1959 Arthur & Linda Cornwell
1960 Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1961 Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1962 Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1963 Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1964 Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1965 Ron & Pat Sheldon
1966 Cedric & Valda Meers
1967 No Championship - death of Mickey Powell
1968 Neil & Jenny Rosenfeld
1969 Kerry Wilson & Beverley Ford
1970 Kerry Wilson & Beverley Ford

Australian Professional Latin Champions
1960 Harry & Dot Osbourne
1961 Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1962 Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1963 Kevin Gibson & Shirley Saunderson
1964 Cedric & Valda Meers
1965 Neville Singh & Betty Little
1966 Neville Singh & Betty Little
1967 No Championship - death of Mickey Powell
1968 Neil & Jenny Rosenfeld
1969 Neil & Jenny Rosenfeld
1970 Neil & Jenny Rosenfeld