• Dance Studio Owners

• Dance Teachers

• Pre/Professional Dancers

Have you always wanted to pursue DANCE as a career?

Ever been told to ‘Get a real job’ or asked, ‘What would you know, you’re just a dancer?’

Are you turned off by the ‘poor starving artist’ stereotype?

Finding your feet in the dance industry can seem daunting, but if you are passionate about dance, there are so many ways to pursue successful, long-term careers that will bring you profit and prosperity.

In Frou Frou to Fruition, Kym Degenhart shares her experiences as a professional dancer, dance teacher and dance studio owner, to deliver insider tips to help those who LOVE to dance find success in the dance industry.

Whether you are a pre-professional dancer looking towards a performance career; a passionate teacher wishing to improve pedagogy; a studio owner wanting to create a thriving business; or transitioning from one of these careers to another – Frou Frou to Fruition delves deep into many of the challenges, providing actionable steps to success.

Now is the time to positively influence the next generation of dancers. Take action to build the future you’ve always dreamed of.

Let’s dance!

Kym has been teaching dance since 1998 and has had a 10 year international professional dance career, most notably as a Cancan dancer at the Bal du Moulin Rouge in Paris & Principal/Dance Captain for Dance Encore Productions in Tokyo. She has a Bachelor of Journalism, Bachelor of Arts, a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education specialising in Dance (receiving the Australian Council for Educational Leaders Undergraduate Prize) and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She is an A.T.O.D (Australian Teachers of Dancing) affiliate teacher and completed a certificate in Event Management. Kym completed her Australasian Dance Association Advanced Teachers Tap, and Elementary Teachers Modern certificates, and was the first student in Queensland to sit Supreme Tap, receiving honours with distinction for all. In 2022, Kym’s studio, Bom Funk, won the Local Business Awards Outstanding Performing Arts and in 2019, Kym was awarded Business Person of the Year at The Local Business Awards, Canberra. In 2018, Kym was awarded Canberra’s Young Business Women of the Year (Canberra Women in Business). Bom Funk has also won the Quality Business Award for Best Dance Studio and Best Ballet School in Queanbeyan for 2022 and 2023.

Kym published her first book in 2019, Frou Frou to Fruition in which she shares her experiences as a professional dancer, dance teacher and studio owner to help those who love to dance find success in the industry. It hit #1 on the Amazon Best Seller list in 3 categories: Women & Business; Performing Arts; & Dance.

Kym has lived and danced professionally in Paris, Hong Kong, Japan and Sydney, and toured to Rome, USA and Edinburgh. Furthermore, Kym has extensive commercial and modelling experience, including shows for Coca-Cola, Xbox, Ainori (Fuji TV), Secret City (Fox), FTV Model Awards (FashionTV), Il treno dei desideri (Rai 1, Italy), Fashion Hall-of-Fame designer, Richard De Chazal, and with Penelope Cruz on France’s Hit Machine.

Kym moved to Hong Kong in 2008 to teach dance at an international studio, and in 2010 moved to Canberra to be a principal instructor at a local dance studio and the Arts Education tutor for Dance at the University of Canberra. She was the Head of Dance at Calwell High School (2012-2015) & at the time, ran Canberra's largest High School Dance program. Kym transferred to Namadgi School, a K-10 ‘Super School’ in 2016, to establish a new dance program, which continues to grow. At Namadgi she taught dance to both primary and secondary year levels until retiring from school teaching in 2023.   

Kym has a particular passion for running memorable and magical events. She manages a commercial dance company, Kix Arts® Productions, with Cabaret group High Kix® Cabaret and Tap group, Tap Kix® in which she still performs in. Her cabaret show ‘Frou Frou to Fruition’ created for her book launch was a top 4 finalist in the Australian Dance Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre in 2020.

Official Book Launch & CABARET SHOW

On the 12th May 2019 (Mother's Day) we celebrated the launch of Frou Frou to Fruition with a spectacular Cabaret performance which took guests on a dance journey through the chapters of the book. The Cabaret will be performed again at Floriade’s NightFest on 5th October 2019.

📍: Lucky's Speakeasy, QT Building
🎤💡: Sidestage Production Services
📷🎥: Anthoz Photoz & Media + Family Fotographics 
💃: High Kix Cabaret, Tap Kix, J4 Crew, JKix Crew & Carol Blazeski.

Frou Frou to Fruition: The Cabaret

🏅Finalist (TOP 4) Australian Dance Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre.

Frou Frou to Fruition: Book Launch Socials

Melbourne 48 Hour Author Group Book Launch

On the 8th March 2019 (International Women’s Day), 12 recently published authors came together for a group book launch with Natasa Denman - Ultimate 48 Hour Author.

📍: The Sporting Globe, Richmond
📷: Kosta Iatrou, IKON Images

Pat Bowden

You don’t need to be a dancer to find this book useful.

5.0 out of 5 stars: Amazon review

You don’t need to be a dancer to find this book useful. Written in a flowing, readable style, Frou Frou to Fruition incorporates information that can be transferred across fields. Although aimed at people involved in the dance industry, there are tips relevant to anyone trying to make a career as a performer, teacher or business owner. And Kym Degenhart has done all three, culminating with an award from CWB in Canberra, Australia, for Young Businesswoman of the Year in 2018.
Based on Kym’s own experiences as a dancer at the Moulin Rouge, Disneyland, and other venues, the early chapters can help you define your own life goals, then set out to achieve them. Useful ways to deal with unsuccessful auditions (or other setbacks) and how to cope with life in a foreign land are presented alongside Kim’s checklist for audition preparation. Many of these techniques can also help in other contexts. Although the book is written by an Australian and focuses on the situation in Australia, readers from other countries will also benefit from reading it.
With thoughts incorporating everything from parking availability, accessibility, and bathroom facilities to performance-specifics such as stage managing, costumes, and lighting, the chapter on event planning could be used by anyone organising a large party or reunion. Just use the relevant points and ignore the rest.
Each chapter ends with a “Time to Take Action” box which summarises how you can implement the major messages from that chapter.
Part autobiography, part encouraging text, this book can help you make the most of your opportunities….

If only my teachers were as dedicated and supportive as Kym! Despite this minor irritation, I found Frou Frou to Fruition an interesting and inspiring read.

~Pat Bowden - Online Learning Success

Leisa Persson

I just finished your book. Thank you! It was a fantastic read.

Everything in your book resonated with me and was thoroughly enjoyable. I’ll be giving it to senior students and are wanting to pursue a performance career.

Just wanted to say congratulations!

~ Leisa Persson - Owner, Mackay Fame Talent School

Angela Lau

Kym Degenhart is an exceptional leader in the dance industry. I have the utmost respect for the heights she has reached as a professional dancer, but more importantly, after the glamour and glitz of working in Paris, she has returned to Australia to give back to the dance community. I adore her passion and generosity as a teacher and advocate for dance in Australia. She is an incredible role model for dancers and teachers on how to be successful in our industry.

~ Angela Lau, Founder, Australian Dance Festival

Gabrielle Robinson

With a wealth of experience under her Cancan skirt, Kym is one dance educator who is focused on continually paying it forward.

~ Gabrielle Robinson, Director of Empowerdance, Gravity Dance, and Creator of Buddy Online

Jane Grech

Kym is a light to the dance education industry in Australia. Her energy, enthusiasm and tenacity mean she is constantly striving to be the very best she can be. An inspiring role model, she has a positive impact on all around her whether that be her students, colleagues or fellow dance studio owners.

~ Jane Grech, Creative Director at JG Creative

SARA NEWELL

I have so far read your book almost 3 times from cover to cover. I find that when I pick it up, I can’t put it down as it just captures me.
I love that you have written your book not only through your eyes but also to show that you weren’t handed everything. It is inspiring to read not only the ups but also that it wasn’t easy and that there were setbacks, I really think this gives your younger readers that understanding that there are going to be times where it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. For me as a parent of a dancer who dreams of having a career on stage and then plans to open her own studio down the track, I am so grateful that you have written a book that is full of helpful guidance and tips for someone who wants that life.
I rate your book 💯 /10, now I just have to give it up so my daughter can read it in hopes of helping her reach her dreams. Congratulations Miss Kym.

~ Sara Newell - Dance Mum