When Derryl Yeager began dipping the toes of his jazz shoes into the dance company world, what he saw was a hole. After being on Broadway, Yeager said that he came back to Utah in 1994 and realized there was a need for more opportunity for Utah dancers.
“There was a huge pool of talent that didn’t want to go to New York or Los Angeles to dance. We needed a company that was multi-talented, that did a little bit of everything,” Yeager, the founder and artistic director of Odyssey Dance Theatre in Highland, said in an interview with the Deseret News.
Yeager said, at that time, the last thing anyone thought Utah needed was another dance company. He got together a group of 10 dancers and did a small show to test the waters and see how audiences would react to their multi-styled approach. Yeager said that Odyssey was a hit, and two years later they created their signature show, “Thriller.”
“‘Thriller’ became our ‘Nutcracker.’ It provides the funds for us to do the rest of our season,” Yeager said.
"MJ" is a show in this year's "Shut Up and Dance" repertory series from Odyssey Dance Theatre and celebrates the career of Michael Jackson. | Odyssey Dance Theatre
The ticket sales from the annual “Thriller” run go toward paying for the production of the “Shut Up and Dance” concerts and for the group to go on a European tour every summer.
“We have been touring Europe annually for 12 years now, which is unusual for any company. We’ve just lucked into venues and producers that really love our performances,” Yeager said.
He said that European audiences love Odyssey’s shows because they are vibrant, fun and a fresh take on the classic dance styles.
“We usually have to add three to four bows and a couple of encores at those shows. New dancers are always floored by that,” Yeager said.
“Shut Up and Dance” is the company’s repertory series, and includes a wide variety of styles and music. Yeager said most of the shows started as half-performances but were so popular that the company expanded them to full-length productions.
This year’s “Shut Up and Dance” season features “Let it Be,” a show based on the music of the Beatles; “MJ,” in celebration of Michael Jackson’s career; and the world premiere of a half-show called “Purple Rain,” in memory of Prince.
“It’s a complete smorgasbord,” said Yeager. “There is something in these shows for everyone to enjoy. Even people who think they don’t like dance will find something they think is cool.”
"Shut Up and Dance" runs March 29 through April 8. | Odyssey Dance Theatre
Though Yeager enjoys the music of each section of “Shut Up and Dance,” he shared several personal connections with the “Let it Be” show, which is being performed this season for the first time in eight years.
“I grew up with the Beatles, and to me, there still isn’t anyone who has done the amount of material that they did. Their music is so varied, and it fits well with the variety within our company,” Yeager said.
The show started as one solo piece for a male dancer to “Oh, Darling,” and Yeager said that after that piece turned out well he started picking his favorite songs to choreograph to until it turned into a show.
“Let it Be” will also feature a tribute to Julia Miller Bryce, a former Odyssey dancer who passed away recently. Yeager shared that in the original “Let it Be” performance, Bryce did a surprise solo to the song “Julia,” because her parents named her after it. This year’s show will include a video of Bryce performing that solo, alongside a dance tribute from some of her Odyssey co-performers.
Yeager said that “Let it Be” will also be fun for families.
“This show captures a lot of the humor in the Beatles' songs. Artists today are really full of themselves and trying to be cool, but sometimes have nothing to say. The Beatles were cool because they had something to say,” Yeager said.
Yeager hopes that the fun aspects of the show will resonate with the children who attend and they will be able to find something to relate to in art.
Though promoting art and making art are both very important to Yeager, he said that his main goal in founding the Odyssey Dance Theatre was to provide a place where Utah talent could pursue a dance career close to home.
“We are fortunate to have a hugely talented dance community here in Utah. I’ve worked with people on Broadway, 'So You Think You Can Dance' and many other places, and a lot of our dancers are better than the ones I see there,” Yeager said.
Yeager encouraged Utahns of all ages and interests to come enjoy “Shut Up and Dance” this season, saying that the shows are for people who love dance, people who don’t know anything about dance and even people who think they don’t like dance shows.
“There is so much variety in these shows. It is really impressive that our dancers are capable of putting together something so diverse and intense,” Yeager said.
If you go …
What: Odyssey Dance Theatre's "Shut Up and Dance"
When: March 29-April 8, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 1 and 8, 2 p.m.
Where: Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle
How much: $20-$40, children under 6 not permitted
Web: tickets.utah.edu, odysseydance.com
Email: mhulse@deseretnews.com