A Skipton dance teacher, who has dedicated her life to educating youngsters all over the world, has been rewarded at a ceremony in London.

Margaret Jaffe, who runs the Northern Dance School at Skipton Girls' High, the community centre in Otley Street and at the One Step Fitness Studio, received the Imperial Award for Dance for her lifetime's contribution to the dance and theatre profession.

She said: "The award is like the Oscars of the dance world. It was very unexpected."

Mrs Jaffe's love of dance began during the war when she worked in the Northern Command Entertainment Services while she was still at Skipton Girls' High. She launched her first folk dance group, which travelled extensively entertaining Allied servicemen. She later studied piano and composition at the Royal Manchester College of Music.

Mrs Jaffe, who now lives in Threshfield, founded the Northern Dance Centre nearly 50 years ago in Grassington, with her husband Nigel Allenby-Jaffe, a musician and historian. It has honed such talents as Laura Waddington and Nigel Hunt who are now dancing in Michael Flatley's Spirit of the Dance, and Jane Tucker who is currently in the Hong Kong Ballet.

The centre runs about 50 classes a week in Skipton and Ilkley with the help of eight members of staff. This gives Mrs Jaffe the time to offer her services as an examiner in South Africa and Hong Hong.

She founded the first arts educational school in Bradford where students could train in dance or drama and get a full education at the same time. Ten years ago she also founded a dance summer school in Denmark.

"Teaching dance has been my life," said Mrs Jaffe. "You get such a wonderful end product.

"If I had gone into a theatre school to dance professionally myself then my career would have over years ago.''

Pupils of the Northern Dance School - including 15-year-olds Rachel Robson and Robyn Tedder, and Mary Clough, 14, from South Craven School, Cross Hills - will be performing a celebration of PE and athletics at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on Saturday evening.

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