Australian Dance Vision

Australian Dance Vision mourns the passing of our Lifetime Honorary Member, Lorna Nichols 💜

Lorna’s remarkable journey in dance began in England at the age of five and continued in Australia, where she trained extensively across classical ballet, jazz, tap, and more. Her early career included performances with the South Australian Ballet Company, Queensland Ballet, and The Australian Ballet, following her training at the Australian Ballet School.

Lorna’s passion for dance extended far beyond performance. A deeply respected teacher, mentor, and educator, she dedicated decades to nurturing dancers across Australia with generosity, discipline, and care.

Her contribution to Australian Dance Vision was profound and enduring. As the principal creator and lifelong supporter of the ADV Tap Syllabus, Lorna helped shape the training of countless dancers and teachers nationwide. She continued to refine this work over many years, serving as a tutor at workshops and as a valued member of the Review Committee. Her authorship of the ADV Tap Learning Strategies History Manual further reflects her lasting commitment to excellence in dance education.

In recognition of her outstanding service, Lorna was awarded Honorary Life Membership of ADV — a testament to the enduring impact of her work.

Former Chairperson and Founder of ADV, Penelope Lancaster, shared:
“We were very sorry to hear of Lorna’s recent passing. She was both a friend and collaborative colleague who helped ADV attain its high standards and was very supportive of ADV’s endeavours in all dance training activities. Being appointed as an ADV Honorary Lifetime Member, she was an inspiration to ADV and its many dance teachers and their students, having been the principal creator and supporter of ADV’s tap syllabus. She brought her wide expertise in dance and dance training of all genres to young people, helping create the widely respected ADV tap syllabus. She will be remembered with my everlasting love.”

Lorna’s legacy lives on in the generations of dancers and teachers she inspired.

We extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and all whose lives she touched.

Rest peacefully, Lorna.

We’re thrilled to introduce the new Directors of Australian Dance Vision - a passionate team committed to honouring ADV’s legacy while driving it into a bright, modern future.

All of these ladies are ADV assessors, examiners, studio owners and long term members of ADV, bringing a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to elevating ADV into a bold new era.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been working around the clock on major updates, fresh resources, and meaningful improvements across the entire ADV experience. From syllabus development to teacher support, digital upgrades, and community connection - everything is being reimagined with purpose.

This is the start of a brand new ADV.

A stronger, more innovative, more connected organisation that celebrates the artistry, excellence, and joy of dance in Australia and beyond.

We can’t wait to share what’s coming next - and we’re so excited for you to be part of this next chapter with us. Stay tuned for your membership info shortly.

Watch this space… the evolution has begun.

📚✨ From Penny’s Bookshelf.

Spotted on Penny’s shelf at ADV: Let Them Dance! by Laurel Martyn, a heartfelt tribute to the transformative power of dance in a child’s life.

Subtitled “A preparation for Dance and Life!”, this beautiful book reminds us why we do what we do. Laurel Martyn’s legacy inspires generations of dance educators and students alike.

Let them move. Let them grow. Let them dance. 💃🩰🌟

🩰 Time flies when you’re dancing 💃
It’s been nearly a year since our last ADV assessment at Shannon's Dance School with Peta Iwanoczko (ADV Assessor).
Thank you, , for being part of the 2025 ADV Member family. Your support helps sustain Australian dance education and keeps it alive for future generations.
Planning an assessment in 2025? Get in touch and let’s make it happen. ✅

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all the schools, teachers, and assessors who have renewed and joined ADV for 2025! Your dedication and passion continue to shape the future of dance education. ✨ This year marks an important step in our journey, and we are thrilled to grow and consolidate together. Let’s make 2025 a year of excellence, movement, and connection! 🩰💐

Wishing all ADV members and friends a safe and happy festive season. Our office is now closed until 29/01/2025.

Did you know ADV offers a wholistic learning approach to it's syllabus content, teaching an understanding of musical theory, body science and dance theory 📖 We are the leaders inn creating educated dancers 👯✏️🌟
📸Australian Dance Enterprises of New England

It's Flyday yay! 🙌
We hope you are as happy as ADV Classical & Jazz student Aliyah from Rory Williamson School of Dance 💜✨💃

It's Tutu Tuesday!
We love this picture of ADV Classical student Molly from Australian Dance Enterprises of New England 😍
Send us your pics to be featured 🩰✨👯‍♀️

Concert season is upon us! We love this pic of Burnie Ballet Academy students taking a break from rehearsals of La Fille mal Gardee.
Chookas to all our ADV schools for your end of year shows 👏👯🌟