Bom Funk’s Zoe Tuckfield, Kym Degenhart and Shekiralea Healy celebrate their award in Sydney. Photo: Supplied.
Queanbeyan-based Bom Funk Dance Studio has been named regional dance studio of the year at the 2024 Australasian Dance Education Awards (ADEA) night in Sydney Harbour.
The awards recognise the work of teachers and studio owners across Australia and New Zealand in raising awareness of the art form.
The studio also took out second place for overall dance studio of the year and gold for excellence in customer service as well as excellence in marketing and branding.
Bom Funk instructor Shekiralea Healy won silver for dance teacher of the year.
The judges praised Bom Funk’s studio owner Kym Degenhart and her team, recognising their commitment to dance education, students and the community.
“Kym Degenhart demonstrates that her studio is a leading studio in Canberra/ACT region, and arguably one of the very best in Australia,” one judge remarked.
“Her commitment to developing the very best facilities and a great diversity of genres across the arts – not only dance – suggests Bom Funk has an exceptional business leader, which is supported by the testimonials and the ongoing success of Bom Funk.”
Ms Degenhart, a former Paris-based cancan dancer, took ownership of Bom Funk Dance 10 years ago. She’s dedicated her life to the Queanbeyan studio ever since.
“I work close to 60 hours a week, I do a lot of the admin and paperwork during the day, I teach three nights a week and we often have events on the weekends. It really is a 24/7 job but that’s the case for most small business owners,” she said.
“I think we were recognised because we offer a huge variety for our families. But we’re also quite understanding and versatile if the kids have other activities and we work around it.
“We also have some great teachers who show their dedication to dance and the art form beyond it just being a job.”
Bom Funk provides lessons for all ages. Photo: Supplied.
Bom Funk now sets its sights on the international stage, planning its first overseas trip since 2019. Twenty-four dancers will travel to Japan in 2025, aiming to be the first Australian dance studio to perform at iconic venues including Tokyo Disney, Universal Studios Osaka and the World Expo in Osaka.
“Our success has allowed us to provide incredible opportunities for our students, whether they aspire to a professional career in dance or simply want to grow in confidence and joy,” Ms Degenhart said.
The 41-year-old encouraged children and adults to give the sport a go.
She said the dancing industry had changed considerably over her career.
“It’s not just about push-push-push. It’s learning about your body. We say that dancing is for everybody … there’s a lot more opportunity and inclusivity, for teaching for different sizes and appreciating mental health.”
The studio invites the community to experience its award-winning programs on 1 February 2025 when it hosts an open day with free trial classes. More information can be found on the Bom Funk website.
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