A lifelong dedication to dance has helped Warren County's Kat Hyder make her way to the sidelines of Middle Tennessee State University. Hyder, the 20-year-old daughter of Jamey and Melody Hyder, has been dancing since a very early age and is proud to currently be a sophomore member of the MTSU Dance Team. A former student at Morrison Elementary and Warren County High School, she began dancing at the tender age of 4.
"I completely fell in love with the sport all thanks to my sister, Arrie," Hyder said. "From that point, I haven't stopped dancing. I have studied at Paula’s Dance Academy (PDA) in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, pointe, and my newest addition, pro style at MTSU."
Hyder is quick to credit the local mentorship she has received since childhood for inspiring her love of dance and for helping her grow that passion into a fulfilling dance career.
"Dance will always be my first love. It is a place where I can completely and fully be me," Hyder said. "I have always belonged in a dance studio. Especially Mrs. Paula’s. Paula Barnes is the epitome of a mentor, she has been with me since day one and I owe it all to her. She has been a constant in my life and someone I will always look up to. She has always known how to treat me and make me feel wanted. She pushed me to be the woman and dancer I am today. She will be at my wedding and she will be doing the chicken dance with me as a duet. She has no choice.
"I also have to mention my coach Abby. She was another instrumental part of my dance career. Abby went from being my dance partner when I was a nugget, as she liked to call me, to my coach when I went into high school, and thank goodness she did. She has become a great friend now and pushed me in the right way, and I will forever be grateful for all the time she spent with me. Even now Abby still cares for me and would be in Murfreesboro in a split second if I called. They both have seen me at my best and my worst and I am so glad I never scared them off. Thank you to both of them for being two pillars in my life and being two women I will forever look up to."
During her time at PDA, Hyder has amassed an impressive list of achievements, including multiple first place awards in contemporary solo and musical theater/jazz solo at various competitions. After graduating from WCHS, Hyder enrolled at MTSU in Murfreesboro.
"I absolutely fell in love with the campus. My sophomore year I tried out and made the MTSU Dance Team, fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine," Hyder said. "This team has opened a whole world of dance that I had never really thought about. My awesome coach, Brooke Legens, was a former Dallas Maverick dancer, and she has shown me the world of pro style dancing and it is addicting. It’s a different quality of movement that is so fun and bubbly that just makes you want to smile."
Smiles have been plentiful during Hyder's time at MTSU as she has made new friends and enjoyed the experiences college athletics offer.
"I will never forget my first football game. The feeling was electric. To be a part of something like this was just mind blowing," Hyder said. “To open games, we perform the MTSU pregame show with the Band of Blue and it has got to be one of my favorites. It makes me feel like a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.
"We are now in basketball season with nationals ahead of us. The group of girls I get to be around are some of the best people I have met, and I am so proud to be dancing alongside them. Being on this team has meant the world to me. I am so glad to have another coach like Coach Brooke who pushes me to be my best!"
While dancing is a passion she will always carry with her, Hyder has set her sights on a career in law enforcement. As a forensic science major with a minor in dance and forensic anthropology, Hyder's dream job is to work for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation upon graduation. But dance is something which will always hold a special place in her heart.
"My future with dance is unknown but it will never leave me. I have too many unforgettable memories. I want to thank my family and friends. Also Coach Jen who always pushed me to take care of me first. To my mom and dad, thank you for always being my number one supporters and always choosing me first and taking care of me. To my person Arrie, I love you so much and thank you for showing me what I was always meant to do. I am forever indebted to you. To my teammates and coach, thank you for the wonderful experience of Middle Tennessee Dance Team. Go blue!"
