A “LEGEND” in the world of dance has died, aged 91.

Margaret Jaffe, who was awarded the British Empire Medal last year in recognition of her devotion to teaching the art, founded Skipton Northern Dance Centre. The news sparked messages and more than 3,000 hits on the dance school’s website from people around the world describing how they were shocked, heartbroken and devastated by the news.

One message said they had been “blessed to have been taught by her” and another said she was a “true legend” and an “inspiration.”

Amy Addison, who took over the school seven years ago when Mrs Jaffe retired, said: “I’m completely heartbroken at losing my closest friend, mentor and inspiration. It’s devastating. We are all reeling in shock.”

Mrs Jaffe was passionate about the school to the end, just six weeks ago enquiring about the show taking place in Grassington Town Hall on Saturday, March 28, where she started her work.

Mrs Jaffe also ran classes in Skipton, Ilkley and Bradford and was in demand as a judge all over the world.

She was an expert on European folk dance, folk music and folklore and she and her husband, former concert pianist Nigel Allenby-Jaffe, wrote books on the subjects.

Former students include David Gayle, founder of the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars, and Hannah Coates, a soloist with Hamburg Ballet in Germany.

Mrs Jaffe’s love of dance started as a pupil at Skipton Girls’ High School in the Second World War, when she joined the Northern Command Voluntary Entertainments Services, entertaining troops.

After the war, she studied ballet, modern, tap and national dance, and studied piano at the Royal Manchester College of Music.

She set up the Dixon Philip Stage School in Grassington with her husband, and branches followed, developing into the Northern Dance Centre in Skipton, and in 1960 they took over the Braybooks Academy in Bradford.

They also set up a summer ballet school in North Jutland for the Danish authorities – paving the way for the Northern Lights Theatre Group. In 1999, Mrs Jaffe was awarded the Imperial Award for Dance.