Saturday 5th September2026
THE GRAND HOTEL, MALAHIDE

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THE GOLDEN DANCE AWARDS: RECOGNISING PASSION AND TALENT.

Building on the resounding success of Golden Dance Awards Ireland 2025, we are proud to continue our journey with the Golden Dance Awards.

The Golden Dance Awards Ireland 2026 will be held at the iconic The Grand Hotel in Malahide on September 5th, 2026, celebrating the extraordinary talent, dedication, and passion of Ireland’s dance community. This is more than an awards ceremony—it is a tribute to the artistry, commitment, and creativity that deserve recognition and a rightful place in the spotlight.

For the past three years, we have celebrated dancers, studios, and organisations who bring artistry and energy to every stage. Now, entering our second Golden Dance Awards, we continue to honour the achievements, hard work, and dedication that define Ireland’s dance landscape.

Driven by our lifelong love for dance, our journey began with a vision to create a distinguished platform that acknowledges and celebrates the incredible talent in the industry. As former dancers ourselves, we understand the dedication, discipline, and creativity it takes to excel—and we wanted a singular, prestigious event that shines a light on these accomplishments.

The Golden Dance Awards are a celebration of passion, dedication, and artistry. Whether you are a dance school, studio owner, teacher, choreographer, dancer, artist, volunteer, or organiser of feis, festivals, or competitions, this is your moment to be celebrated and recognised.

Looking ahead, our mission is simple: to celebrate and shine a light on the incredible work happening across Ireland’s dance community. While we cannot award every achievement, the Golden Dance Awards provide a platform to acknowledge dedication, passion, and artistry, giving dance the visibility and recognition it rightfully deserves.

Join us as we applaud the individuals and organisations whose talent and commitment make Ireland’s dance community truly extraordinary.

The future is golden—and it’s yours to celebrate.

Catherine Hughes

Co-Founder

Danielle Hughes Quinn

Co-Founder

TITLE PARTNER

MEET THE JUDGES

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SEAN TAAFFE

As the Director of Taaffe Training, Sean Taaffe leads one of the UK and Ireland’s most exciting dance programmes , now featuring a new college in Dublin and Associate Programmes in Dublin, Belfast, Liverpool, and Scotland.

With a career spanning years of professional experience with TV , Cruise Lines and touring shows, Sean brings world-class expertise to his teaching. A CYD Faculty Member and esteemed tutor at Shockout Arts, he is recognised as one of the UK’s top choreographers, celebrated for his innovative and dynamic approach to dance training.

Sean’s true passion lies in inspiring and mentoring the next generation of dancers. His classes are designed to challenge, uplift, and empower students, helping them reach their full potential both technically and creatively.

Sean is absolutely delighted to join this esteemed panel of judges for the first-ever Dance Awards to come to Ireland.

With his passion for mentoring and inspiring the next generation of dancers, Sean looks forward to witnessing the innovation and artistry these awards will showcase.

KYLEE VINCENT

Born and raised in South Africa, Kylee Vincent developed a passion for dance at six, training in Latin, ballroom, ballet, hip hop and contemporary.

Kylee’s major achievements include winning the Dutch Open Latin Championships, U21 World Latin Championships, and the U21 Open British Latin Championships at Blackpool Festival.

Transitioning from competition to entertainment, she toured globally with Burn the Floor, taking on roles as company manager, dance captain and creative team member.

She has performed in musicals such as Rock of Ages and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and danced on the West End in multiple touring shows. Most recently, she completed her fourth season on Dancing with the Stars Ireland, partnering with celebrities like Damian McGinty and Davy Russell.

Kylee is also a certified 500YTT yoga instructor.

It’s a true honour to be part of this inaugural event and to celebrate and recognise dance across Ireland. I cannot wait to see you all there for this special occasion!

INNA MAZURENKO

Inna Mazurenko is a Ukrainian professional dancer and choreographer, and a finalist of TV shows “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” Ukraine.

As CEO of Udance Company, she organised dance championships such as World of Dance Ukraine, Feel The Beat, Global Talent.

Inna has 15 years of experience as an international judge and currently works with CoisCéim Dance Theatre and Dublin Dance Festival.

Inna is a Dance World Cup Ireland Qualifier representative.

Inna played a pivotal role in the first ever Dance Awards in Northern Ireland in October 2024. She is delighted with the expansion of the Golden Dance Awards coming on 13th September to Dublin, Ireland

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JAMES PATRICE

Ready to shine a spotlight on the very best of Ireland’s vibrant and diverse dance scene, this glittering black-tie affair will be hosted by the effortlessly entertaining James Patrice, whose natural charm, humour, and love of the arts make him the perfect choice to lead the celebration.

Speaking about the partnership, James said: “I’m absolutely delira to be hosting this year’s Golden Dance Awards in Dublin! There’s so much passion and creativity in the dance community here, and I can’t wait to help celebrate the people who bring it all to life and tell their stories in the most fabulous way possible. Glitz, glamour and hairspray - my idea of a fabulous night! It’s going to be a guaranteed occasion to remember - with a few surprises along the way!”

BRIAN REDMOND

An award-winning Ballroom and Latin American dancer and a celebrated judge on RTÉ’s Dancing with the Stars. Known for his sharp eye and expertise in dance, Brian has become a beloved figure in Irish entertainment.

Beyond television, he’s a popular radio broadcaster on KCLR Radio hosting Kilkenny and Carlow’s mid morning show The KCLR Daily, where his passion for people and their stories shines through.

Brian also combines his love for dance and meeting people, when teaching adult dance classes in Kilkenny and Carlow. He continues to inspire and connect with audiences across Ireland through his dynamic media presence.

Award Categories

Special recognition

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award, Dance for Wellbeing Award
Choreographer of the Year
Up & Coming Choreographer of the Year
Dance Teacher of the Year (10+ years teaching)
Up & Coming Dance Teacher of the Year (Up to 10 years teaching)
Dance Assistant of the Year
Dance Parent Award
Community Engagement Dance Award
Dance Photographer of the Year
Lifetime Achievement Award (Teaching 30+ years)

Dance Style EXCELLENCE

Jazz,
Irish,
Line,
Baton,
Tap,
Hip Hop,
Cheerleading,
Acro,
Contemporary,
Ballet,
Lyrical,
Freestyle
Other

Dance SCHOOL Awards

Small School of the Year (up to 100),
Medium School of the Year (101-250)
Large School of the Year (250+)

DANCE CREATOR & INFLUENCER

Dance Creator & Influencer Award (This award recognises a dancer who has made a significant impact online through their creativity, consistent content, and ability to engage and inspire a wide audience, celebrating their influence on dance culture and the community)

event AWARDS

Event of the Year Dance Competition
Event of the Year Festival / Feis
Event of the Year Project / Initiatives

DANCER of the year

Aged 9 and under Dancer of the Year
Aged 13 and under Dancer of the Year
Aged 17 and under Dancer of the Year

Performing arts student

Award (Song and Dance)

Aged 9 and under
Aged 13 and under
Aged 17 and under

PRE-PROFESSIONAL DANCER/PERFORMING ARTS STUDENT OF THE yEAR (18+)

Pre Professional Dancer/Performing Arts Student of The Year (18+)

(This award recognises a dancer or performing arts student who has progressed beyond basic training and is pursuing a pre-professional pathway, demonstrating commitment, growth, and strong potential for a future career in the industry)

gROUP pERFORMANCE

Group Performance of the Year - must be able to perform on the night of the awards

Solo Audition Entry

Golden Dance Awards Ireland:

Submission Guidelines

Please follow the instructions below to submit your audition video for either of the two categories.

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Dancer of the year

Ready to make your mark at the Golden Dance Awards? Follow these simple steps to join us:

Select Your Category - Are you a Dance Teacher, Choreographer, Festival Organiser, Costume Designer, Photographer, or another creative professional? Choose your category—or submit entries in multiple categories to increase your chances!
Highlight Your Achievements -Share your awards, recognitions, and career milestones that showcase your expertise and dedication to your craft.
Stand Out from the Crowd - Showcase your creativity, unique vision, and the impact you’ve made on the dance community.
Confirm Your Entry - Once reviewed, you’ll receive an email confirmation. (Pro tip: Check your spam folder to ensure you don’t miss any updates.)
Prepare Your Portfolio - In the second stage, you’ll need to present your best work. Start curating your portfolio now!

Enter

CONTACT

For any questions beyond the nomination form, please leave your details below, and we’ll get back to you soon!

If you have any questions or queries please let us know and we will get back to you at our earliest convenience.

Saturday 5th September2026 THE GRAND HOTEL, MALAHIDE