Two years after their Winter Olympics win, they won our hearts as the opening act at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in 1986. And now legends of the ice, Torvill & Dean, are returning to the scene of their triumph.
The couple (who aren’t a couple) will be doing a victory lap of Australia in June 2025, starting at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall.
Torvill & Dean made their retirement announcement on February 14 (“Bolero Day”, as they fondly call it) while in Sarajevo to commemorate their historic Gold medal-winning performance to Ravel’s Bolero at the 1984 Winter Olympics – exactly 40 years to the day.
While there they relived the memories four decades on from their iconic heart-stopping performance, which had a UK television audience of 24 million people and an estimated worldwide audience of hundreds of millions of viewers on the edge of their seats. It became one of the greatest sporting moments of the 20th century and set a new standard for world-class figure skating.
The Torvill & Dean: Our Last Dance tour kicks off in the UK in April 2025 with the Australian leg (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth) following in June. This will be the very last opportunity to see the world’s most famous skating superstars in action on the ice together – 50 years since they formed their incredible skating partnership.
Chatting to the British duo by phone from the UK, Christopher Dean, 65, says Australian promoter Michael Edgley brought them to Australia originally and that was unexpected.
“Originally, they had booked the Russians thinking they would win but it didn’t work out like that,” Dean says. “We won the Olympics not knowing what was beyond. When we came to Australia afterwards it was supposed to be just two weeks but they kept adding tour dates and it turned into three months.”
Their love affair with Australia began with the visit in 1984, then they came back to train here and debut their own show in Brisbane in 1986. The relationship with Australia has continued over the years. Jane Torvill even had a house in Australia at one stage and intended to settle Down Under, but that didn’t work out. They worked with Sydney Dance Company’s Graeme Murphy on a tour in 2006.
In the UK they made a name for themselves taking part in ITV’s Dancing on Ice and they also did the show in Australia. Dean describes the finale tour next year as “coming full circle”.
Torvill, 66, says the couple (they are a professional couple only and both have other partners in life) has been fortunate to have had such a long career.
“We have just kept going,” she says. “We tried to retire in 1998 but then got involved in Dancing on Ice, which we thoroughly enjoyed. We’re delighted to be bringing our farewell tour to Australia next year. Performing in Oz has always been very special for us. So, Our Last Dance will be a final opportunity to celebrate and say thank you to all of our wonderful fans over there who have supported us consistently for many years.
“Whilst we will continue to work together off the ice, the tour will be the final time we will skate together following our 50-year partnership. It’s going to be very emotional for us, but we promise to put on an amazing live show – and we really hope to see you there.”
Promoter Paul Dainty of TEG Dainty shares the excitement.
“Bringing Torvill & Dean back to Australia after a 30-year absence is truly special,” Dainty says. “Their performances have captivated audiences around the world, and it’s an honour to host their final tour. Australians are in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as we celebrate the extraordinary career of these skating legends.”

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For anyone who was at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in 1986, their show in Brisbane next year will be a trip down memory lane. “It will be back to the future?” I suggest.
“Maybe we should have called the show Back to the Future,” Dean says. “Australia was such an exciting place for us. It was an adventure.”
And now the adventure is set to continue.
Torvill & Dean: Our Last Dance – tickets go on sale to the general public at noon on July 11; ticketetek.com.au
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