Tasmanian Dancesport
Hall of Fame
ALAN ROBERSTON
(1934 - )
INDUCTED 2024
Alan Robertson is a former Tasmanian who has now retired to Queensland. He had an illustrious career as a competitive ballroom dancer and teacher as well as being an exemplary role model within the ballroom dancing community.
Alan was acknowledged as a valued member of the local ballroom dancing community and was best man at the wedding of well known teachers and competitors, Evelyn Goodrick and Alan Kupsch and also at the wedding of Maxine and Jeff Fisher. Alan often befriended people with disabilities and encouraged their participation in the dancing community. For example, he supported and taught a well known Hobart identity (Artie Berry) who had cerebral palsy and often wandered Hobart streets. Alan encouraged Artie’s participation in the ballroom dancing community and helped him do all of his medals up to gold standard.
Alan is remembered by his generation of dancers as a quiet achiever who was very supportive to his dance partners and his numerous students. He was an extremely successful amateur ballroom dancer within the state and also represented Tasmania on the wider Australian and world stage. He is now living in Queensland with his wife Linda whom he met when she was one of his students at the Sapphire Ballroom.
Alan taught in a voluntary capacity at the Royal Ballroom (later renamed the Sapphire Ballroom) and again at the Mt Stuart Hall for the Belvedere Dancers Association over a period of 17 years from 1951 to 1968. Alan was made a Life Member of the Belvedere Dancers Association of Tasmania in 1968.
Evelyn Southee Goodrick
EVELYN SOUTHEE GOODRICK
(1931 - 2013)
Evelyn Goodrick was born in Geeveston, Tasmania in 1931 and died in 2013 after a lifetime devoted to ballroom dancing.
Evelyn's name is synonymous with ballroom dancing in Hobart, in the era when ballroom dancing was at its peak.
She was the proprietor of the successful Evelyn Goodrick School of Dancing and taught literally thousands of Tasmanian's to dance at the Belvedere and Sapphire Ballrooms, as well as coaching many Tasmanian's and Australian champion competitors.
Evelyn also competed successfully in ballroom dancing at State, National and International levels. She was held in highest professional and personal repute, overcoming considerable hardship and tragedy, to be a highly successful professional teacher, mentor and supporter to countless social and registered ballroom dancers.
Evelyn continued to teach on a voluntary basis, until the last month before her death, at the age of 83.
INDUCTED 2014
Alan Douglas Kupsch
Level of achievement
Alan started ballroom dancing competitively in 1951 in Hobart, having completed all of his medals up to Gold Crown with Mary Johnson as his teacher. He competed in the modern genre over several decades partnering Joan Hutchinson, Norma Nicholson, Eileen Cousins Joan Matthey (nee Humphrey), Doreen Oldham, Marjory Williams and Janis Arthur.
Competitive record
Alan won the Open Tasmanian Amateur Title on ten occasions :
1954 and 1955 - with Joan Humphrey
1956, 1957 and 1958 - with Doreen Oldham
1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964 - with Joan Matthey (neeHumphrey)
Alan and Joan Matthey/Humphrey represented Tasmania at the Australian National Championships seven times and competed in the Ballroom World Championship in Sydney in 1964 against competitors from England, West Germany, Norway, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, Japan, USA as well as 60 other Australian couples. They survived 14 successful rounds before being eliminated.
In 1964 Alan and Joan also represented Tasmania in the final of TV Ballroom on ABC television. Alan was the successful recipient of the Charity Wynn shield for dancing excellence on a number of occasions.
ALAN DOUGLAS KUPSCH
(1928 - 1973)
Alan Kupsch was born in Hobart, the youngest of eight children.
At the age of 20, Alan attended his first dancing class, not realising at that moment he was about to enter a world that would end up taking him all around the world.
It was here he met Evelyn Goodrick, who quickly realised that he had natural talent and unyielding enthusiasm.
The list of achievements over the decades that they partnered each other was extraordinary including 19 Tasmanian State titles and numerous Australian Titles.
Alan and Evelyn hosted a weekly segment on ABC TV sharing their love of ballroom dancing.
They represented Australia in the first ever World Dancing Championship in Tokyo, where they became semi-finalists. Alan gave his all to his chosen sport and profession of dancing. He was known as a perfectionist with a compassionate and insightful nature.
INDUCTED 2015
Robert Bob Graf
ROBERT (BOB) GRAF
(1928 - )
Robert (Bob) Graf has been involved in ballroom dancing in Tasmania for more than sixty years and has 'loomed large' on the professional DanceSport scene for many of those years.
He describes himself as a "late starter" to dancing. Of his first competition Bob says he's 'still shaking' but always competed successfully as an amateur - he recalls at competitions in those days as always a live band and a packed house of spectators.
In 1964 Bob teamed up with his wife, Ann, and commenced competing professionally. Bob and Ann had many successes at State level and a number of placings at National level in the Australian Dancing Society Australian Championships.
Bob has contributed to this industry in every conceivable way from being a competitor, teacher, studio operator, esteemed judge and Chairman of the Tasmanian DanceSport Committee
However his greatest legacy will be his mentor-ship of the next generation. His willingness to impart his knowledge, expertise, passion and experience to those coming after him.
INDUCTED 2017
Henry Cornish and Charlotte Page
HENRY CORNISH AND CHARLOTTE PAGE
Henry Cornish and Charlotte Page started dancing together in October 2010 as DanceSport Juvenile Competitors and then progressed to the Junior and Youth age groups.
They have been Juvenile champions, Junior champions and Youth Champions. They have also competed successfully in the Adult age group, against much older and more experienced couples.
In 2012, they were selected to represent Australia at the Junior World 10 Dance Championships in Latvia and then in 2014, they again represented Australia at the World Youth Latin American Championships in Russia.
Henry and Charlotte have now retired their partnership to further their education, having impressed the dance world beyond their wildest of expectations. Charlotte most recently appeared in Sunset Boulevard at the Sydney Opera House alongside Sarah Brightman.
Despite their young ages they have an exceptional and outstanding record in DanceSport at State, National and International levels that warrants the nomination of their partnership to the Tasmanian DanceSport Hall of Fame.
Members of their studio community report that they have never heard Henry or Charlotte speak negatively of their competitors or adjudicators and they have both always displayed camaraderie and support for other dancers in their studio.
At a personal level, Henry and Charlotte have won the hearts of their fellow dancers and the DanceSport community within Tasmania and interstate by their humble, warm hearted and generous attitude.
INDUCTED 2018
Selection Criteria
Have achieved outstanding performance in DanceSport competition while either identifying themselves as Tasmanian or acknowledging Tasmania as their home.
Have achieved outstanding commitment to DanceSport outside of competition while either identifying themselves as Tasmanian or acknowledging Tasmania as their home.
Have exhibited a standard of behaviour that is fair, ethical and above reproach in relation to the rules and regulations of this sport and the committee expectations.
Selections will be made from as far back as records allow.
Announcements will be made as applicable at The Tasmanian DanceSport Open Championship annually ( if applicable).