Huddersfield Irish dance teacher Rebecca Kane has won a world-renowned award.

She has been honoured with a Global Excellence in Teaching Award by the USA-based Irish Dancing Magazine which is circulated worldwide.

Rebecca runs Kane Irish Dance on St James’s Road in Marsh and is a former British, world and all Ireland dance champion.

The magazine’s publisher Denise Keane said: “We are thrilled to announce Rebecca Kane as one of the distinguished recipients of the 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award.

“Rebecca is a beloved, inspiring dance teacher, cherished by both students and parents. Her dedication to the art of Irish dance is truly exceptional.”

The Excellence in Teaching Awards shine a spotlight on remarkable dance teachers from around the world. These awards honour those who have made extraordinary contributions to the world of Irish dance, fostering a deep appreciation for this art form and its positive impact on students.

Rebecca is one of 20 exceptional teachers honoured worldwide, including Ireland, England, Germany, Australia, the USA and Canada.

Rebecca is a dance educator with a focus on non-competitive dance. She prefers to teach a show-style of Irish dance to share Irish culture with local communities.

She stands out for her unwavering commitment to inclusivity. A blind Huddersfield girl, Taaliyah Bates, had always wanted to learn how to Irish dance … and within just four weeks she completed her first dance and made her first public performance under Rebecca’s guidance.

Taaliyah, 13, from Newsome became besotted with Irish music, culture and dance after hearing The Pogues’ version of Fairytale of New York.

Once she began to work with her, Rebecca realised the youngster had a natural drive and talent to succeed.

“My philosophy is that nothing is impossible,” said Rebecca. “Taaliyah certainly does not let her blindness define her. She’s a dancing fighter who will overcome everything to succeed.

“You simply can’t teach that kind of passion – it comes from within. It’s something that’s quite rare.”

Rebecca runs classes for students of all ages and skill levels from pre-school dance to advanced and even does online dance lessons too.

Find out more at www.kaneirishdance.com

Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.

How blind youngster Taaliyah’s dream came true on Huddersfield stage