Leslie Patrick Gilwell "Les" Newman OAM, FAMI (November 29, 1930 – March 12, 2015) was an Australian professional ballroom dancer, businessman, company director and performing arts administrator.
[2] He is credited with "quite literally saving the Society" (CSTD)[3] by restoring it to financial stability and then steering it to an unprecedented period of growth and prosperity by expanding its activities and influence beyond Australia and throughout South East Asia and Canada.
[6] The series showcased the best amateur and professional dance couples in Australia competing against each other in categories as diverse as Traditional and Modern Ballroom, Jazz, Rap and Rock & Roll.
[7] There were typically 5,000 people on the waitlist for tickets to taping sessions of the show, as well as plans to expand the format to a That's Dancin' book and video and, reportedly, negotiations with a U.S. television network to create a local American version of the series[7] when the ABC unexpectedly cancelled it.
Ballroom dancing is an increasingly popular sport and recreation for the people of Australia, as shown by the remarkably large - for the ABC - audience share which That's Dancin' has obtained in a difficult time slot.
In a world that thrives on drama and theatrics, I never saw him flustered and while he never shied away from dealing with difficult confrontations he did it with composure and authority ... Of all the adjectives to describe Les Newman that have passed through my mind, it is 'integrity' and 'passion' that dominate.
"[3] In October 2015, Comdance created the Leslie P. Newman Award for Outstanding Service to Dance in his honour, the trophy featuring the Latin inspiration, Discilpina Integriate Passionis (Discipline Integrity Passion); the inaugural winner was Gail Meade.