Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Hyde.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It is impossible for me to tell my story without first mentioning my large, passionate, and incredibly encouraging family. They are such a big part of my life and artistic journey. I am so grateful for them, I would not be where I am today without growing up in such a supportive home environment where our creativity was fostered and important character traits for a successful life such as integrity and work ethic were instilled. My love and appreciation for the arts started in the home dressing up for dance parties in the den, listening to music converted from my parent’s old records, going to art museums, etc. I love that the arts are all about honest connection and communication. I know my upbringing in a loving and secure home has enabled me to become a more courageous artist because my parents taught us our individual voices mattered.
At four years old, I remember standing on my tippy toes curiously peering through the glass portion of the door that separated me from where my two older sisters were in dance class. My parents asked me if I wanted to start taking lessons as well and since then I haven’t lost that child-like joy, curiosity, or desire. Not that my journey hasn’t been challenging or hard at times but the feeling I get from creating, collaborating, and performing in general makes me feel so alive and satisfied with life that it is worth it. Growing up, I was able to explore my diverse interests in dance, music, drama, etc. that have made me the diverse, triple threat performer I am today.
Fast forward twenty years to the present, where I have just graduated from Kennesaw State University with my Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and a business certification from the Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business Program. I am honored to have been apart of these two highly competitive and esteemed programs where I made so many great connections and grew so much as an artist/creative entrepreneur. Moving forward I am moving to Atlanta to be closer to the two great dance studios where I have been hired, such as Dance With Me Dance Studios in Buckhead, where I am training to become a ballroom instructor and learning more about the business side as an arts administrative business assistant as well.
I feel blessed and excited for this next chapter. So, when you ask me how I got started and how I got to where I am today, it was not by myself. Above all Christ’s love and grace, my family, friends, teachers, and every supporter along the way that believed and invested in me is how I got to where I am and how I will continue to grow in this crazy creative journey.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I was a child, I didn’t know what the 2008 house market crash was or how it affected my Dad’s business. I didn’t know the sacrifices my family made or that my studio gave me a scholarship so I could keep dancing. I was shielded and now as an adult am so incredibly touched by how much my family supported me growing up.
In high school I ended up changing schools my senior year, that could have been a struggle being “the new kid” but it was actually the fresh start I needed and was the best year of high school. I was mistreated in the previous musical theater troupe I was apart of but I auditioned and got my first lead role as “Miss Pennywise” in the school musical and our troupe ended up getting second in the state for the one act competition. I was voted for “best actress” and received “best female vocalist” I was highly involved in journalism, honor societies, clubs, etc. It has taught me to forgive those who mistreat you and to be open to change because sometimes it’s for the best.
My parents reared us to become independent adults, which means after high school we are expected to leave the house, pay for college, and work to support ourselves. Throughout college, I definitely struggled as I matured and dealt with different stressors like how to creatively work around going to school full-time and being involved in extracurriculars in order to pay for bills. Learning from mistakes, which included me not having a car for months and biking over 40 miles a week through the cold, rain, and snow in order to get to work and school. Having times where I didn’t know what I was going to do financially and if it wasn’t for the generosity of the College of the Arts giving me a scholarship and my family I wouldn’t have been able to afford rent a few times. Spraining my ankle twice once in class and once during a professional dance contract landing wrong after an assisted backflip that I couldn’t even walk.
The thing is life isn’t a smooth road, it is filled with bumps and detours. I am not complaining about any of the struggles that I have gone through because, not to sound cliche, but they really have helped me grow. Closer to the Lord, trusting his love and purposes for my life. Learning to let others into my life and allowing them to be involved in the good, bad, and the ugly. It has shown me that I am strong, adaptable and that whatever happens, I will persevere. I turn to spirituality and the creative arts as a place of solace to express every range of emotion so a lot of my pain or joy is filtered into a song or dance. That universal nature or art, the humanity of pain and joy, is where the beauty lies.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a triple threat, so I sing, dance, and act.
My first professional job was working with Tony Award Nominated Choreographer and Director, Otis Sallid, in “Chiaroscuro” in the Modern Atlanta Dance Festival at the Theatrical Outfit. Some of my other professional performance credits include dancing at the Infinite Energy Center as apart of the opening and closing act for the BU Fashion Show and being contracted as part of the professional dance troupe for the immersive holiday experience, Santa’s Fantastical.
Some proud moments for me would be:
Receiving a full scholarship to the Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) Atlanta Intensive where I felt so blessed to be able to work with Broadway professionals such as Amanda Watkins (Cabaret, Grease, Cats) Christopher Hanke (Rent, How to Succeed in Business) and choreographers Maxx Reed (Spiderman) and Atlanta native, Victor Jackson, to put a show on in one week.
Choreographing and directing one of my first dance for camera films titled “Converging Hope” about being a light in the darkness to those around us for my Final Senior Capstone Project. I ran the initial department audition of over 100 dancers, facilitated rehearsals, and recruited a team of professionals which included Oscar-winning costume designer, Keven Mayes. I learned so much about leadership, collaboration, and adaptability from the entire experience.
Collaborating with fellow colleagues in the Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business Program (MEBUS), where I was able record and produce my first song “Grit” that I wrote about overcoming any insecurity or obstacle internal or external that might get in your way. I partnered with several film studies majors at The Atlanta Savannah College of Art and Design to subsequently produce a music video where it was so surreal and humbling to sing lyrics I had written and choreograph to my own song for the first time.
I also was able to intern at The Creative, an acting and production studio dedicated to the entire creator where I was able to help write, produce, and act in my first Indie Short Film “Last Call” directed by the founder Dave Pileggi. The Creative became like a family and I became even more deeply entrenched in the new world of commercial acting in the Atlanta entertainment industry by hosting workshops such as an event for the United Women of the Arts founded by Lillian Brooks and promoting the company at networking events in Atlanta such as Brent Brook’s, Get Connected.
I currently work as a professional performer, teacher, and freelance digital marketing consultant helping new companies better reach and build their own audiences through streamlined branding and storytelling. I am excited to continue exploring the many outlets that the Atlanta Entertainment Industry offers and to keep expanding my creative comfort zones.
What were you like growing up?
I was very friendly, outgoing, inquisitive, and creative. I loved dancing, drawing/painting, playing piano, making up imagination games with my siblings, climbing trees. My personality and interests haven’t really changed that much since I have become an adult. I still love the arts, learning about and exploring different cultures, and anything active.
Contact Info:
- Email: sarah.genny@gmail.com
- Instagram: @sarah_hyde95
- Other: http://bit.ly/ShydeYoutube
Image Credit:
Austen Taylor (Headshot/full bodied photos), Jaana Anaemereibe Basher Visuals (BTS photos of music video “Grit”), Tyson Alan Horne (Santa’s Fantastical)
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
