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DRAPER — The popular Odyssey Dance Theatre is preparing to say goodbye to Utah's arts community after 28 years of business.
When Derryl Yeager, a former Ballet West principal artist, founded the dance company in 1994 and began his role as its director, he had dreams of what it would become.
"It was my dream that it would become what it has become," he said. "There's lots of things I wished we could have done more of, but when you look at the totality — total amount of work that we've done and pieces that we've created, the art that we've been a part of — it's been a great ride. It's been a wonderful Odyssey."
The dance company has produced a wide array of shows throughout the years including the annual Halloween hit "Thriller," several Christmas shows, "Romeo and Juliet" and "It's a Wonderful Life."
"We've had a very, very strong support from the community in terms of coming to see our productions. 'Thriller' is the big show. I just don't know what it is about Utahns, but they love their Halloween," said Yeager.
The ticket sales from "Thriller" each year account for approximately 90% of the dance company's budget, he added.
"Nobody does that, no art organization comes close to that. And so to me, I'm most proud of that — that we didn't have to live on the dole or by the kindness of some stranger to come in and give us funds to do what we do, because it's kind of expensive," said Yeager.
There's lots of things I wished we could have done more of, but when you look at the totality — total amount of work that we've done and pieces that we've created, the art that we've been a part of — it's been a great ride. It's been a wonderful Odyssey.
–Derryl Yeager, Odyssey Dance Theatre
The Odyssey Dance Theatre employs 24 dancers, with more than half of them being Utah-born, according to its website. The company has carved a space in the dance community that has allowed professional dancers to remain in Utah.
"We just figured out that we probably had over 400 dancers that have come through the company, have been involved in the company over the years," said Yeager. "We're very proud of the legacy, of what we brought to the table ... because we were a professional company without having to go to New York or LA."
Yet some dancers produced by Odyssey Dance Theatre would follow the spotlight on other stages outside of the state, with several appearing on the popular show "So You Think You Can Dance."
Odyssey dancer Hailee Payne made into the top four in Season 12. Marcquet Hill and Tanisha Belnap appeared in the top 20 in Season 11. Tadd Gadduang was third runner-up in Season 8. Brandon Bryant came in second in Season 5. Thayne Jasperson, Gev Manoukian and Matt Dorame, all made it to the finals of Season 4.
Following Bryant's second place in Season 5, Gov. Gary Herbert declared Aug. 20, 2009, as Brandon Bryant Day. The governor commended Odyssey Dance Theatre on its success and noted that it had "been an important and viable part of the arts and culture of the great state of Utah."
The dance company has also expanded beyond Utah stages and embarked on tours to Europe for 16 consecutive years. The European tour included multiple stops and spotlighted a variety of dance forms in what Yeager called a "very American smorgasbord."
While the closure of the Odyssey Dance Theatre may come as a shock for many, Yeager and his wife, Cheryl, have considered the decision for several years. The couple has opted to close the "ma-and-pop shop" and retire, deciding to go on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cheryl Yeager was Odyssey's costume designer and production director.
"We've looked around and we haven't met or worked with anybody who really has the determination, the drive, the passion, the skill-set to do what we've been doing all these years. That's really a tall order and, honestly, if someone wants to follow in our footsteps it's not that hard to do their own thing," said Yeager.
And while the legacy of the Odyssey Dance Theatre is coming to a close, some of it may live on in its hundreds of costumes. The dance company is hosting a "garage sale" at the Utah COPA Draper, 352 W. 12300 South, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The sale will include the company's collection of costumes and props.
"Each one of those costumes has a little story behind it," said Yeager. "We feel good that it would go on and continue that legacy for someone else."
The theatre's Halloween hit, "Thriller," will be performed for the last time from Sept. 23 to Oct. 31. Locations and dates include:
- Park City's Egyptian Theatre — Sept. 23 to Oct. 9
- Logan's Ellen Eccles Theatre — Sept. 26 and Sept. 27
- Ogden's Peery's Egyptian Theater — Oct. 3 and Oct. 4
- Salt Lake City's Kingsbury Hall — Oct. 10 to Oct. 22
- St. George's Tuacahn Amphitheatre— Oct. 25 to Oct. 29, with one Halloween performance on Oct. 31.
For more information regarding dates or tickets visit oddesydance.com.
