Odyssey Press Kit

Everything you need to know about Odyssey...

"Odyssey explodes with vibrant energy....haunting, stirring...spicy, sizzling!"

Angela Drake

BACKGROUND

Odyssey Dance Theatre explodes with world-class bravado, passionate charm, and choreographic invention, combining the classical virtues of ballet with the explosive attack of jazz, the freedom of modern dance, the raw energy of hip-hop, the syncopated rhythms of tap, the fluid partnering of ballroom, and the spirit of Broadway and Vaudeville to create a fresh dance vocabulary and entertainment genre that engages audiences across the country and around the world. Established in Salt Lake City in 1995, Odyssey Dance Theatre has enjoyed a strong and growing audience that includes young and old alike.

The essential elements of the company's work are built around the choreography and direction of its Founder and Artistic Director, Derryl Yeager, its amazingly gifted and multi-talented dancers, its outstanding outreach programs, and the high entertainment value and artistic quality of its performances.

Mr. Yeager's eclectic background as a dancer, singer, actor, and choreographer has given him a unique command over all the elements of live performance and have provided a passionate drive to create new and ground-breaking forms of dance entertainment.

Odyssey Dance Theatre offers a variety of full-length productions and entertaining eclectic repertory performances supported by numerous community outreach options. All of these options provide an opportunity for communities and presenting organizations to create an event that is best suited for their patrons and constituency.

ACTIVITIES

Odyssey Dance Theatre presents three complete seasons in Salt Lake City each year. One of the things that makes this company unique is its amazing repertory that includes numerous original full-length productions as well as an eclectic repertory of over 60 unique pieces created by some of the most sought-after choreographers today.

Full Length Productions

Odyssey Dance Theatre has numerous full-length productions that are built around a specific Holiday or theme.

Repertory Works

Odyssey has spent the last thirty years creating an amazing repertory of shorter works created by well-known and local choreographers. It is an eclectic blend of works that really show off the dancers amazing ver-satility. Odyssey ability to move from ballet to jazz, ballroom to hip-hop, and tap to modern makes for a wonderful mix of works that has something for every-one. This flexibility also allows presenters to choose the repertory they would like and create an event specifically tailored to their audience and patrons.

Touring

Odyssey Dance Theatre has toured both nationally and internationally. They have toured both their full-length and repertory works. Having worked with a variety of presenters, from ad-hoc community organizations to those with well-established presenting programs. Where technical amenities are abundant, performances include a full range of lighting, sets, and sound elements. Odyssey can adapt itself easily to venues with or without technical capabilities.

Tour activities can include:

Single or multiple performances.
Interactive lecture-demonstrations in schools, community centers, and other venues.
Master classes for dance students and avocational adults in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop and ballroom.
Choreographic workshops.
Talks at meetings of fraternal organizations (Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.).
Print and electronic media interviews.
Pre-performance discussions.
Post-performance receptions.
Any other ideas that the presenter can come up with - ask us!

FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Derryl Yeager

Founder and Artistic Director of Odyssey Dance Theatre

As a professional dancer for over two decades, Derryl Yeager has had experience in every style and medium. He received his BFA and MFA degrees at the University of Utah while becoming a principal dancer with Ballet West.

He then went on to perform in the Broadway Shows A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls, and Cats and has appeared in numerous TV and Film projects that include Staying Alive, She's Having a Baby, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, A More Perfect Union, Moonlighting, The Tracy Ullman Show, The Young and the Restless, and General Hospital.

As a Choreographer and Director he has worked professionally from Ballet to Broadway, Film, Music Videos, and numerous Television Shows. He has taught at two major universities and was Artistic Director for the BYU Theatre Ballet for 2 years.

He has choreographed numerous successful ballets with several professional companies and has been the production choreographer for the Utah Shakespeare Festival - winner of the Tony Award for best regional theatre in the year 2000.

As Founder and Artistic Director of Odyssey Dance Theatre, Derryl brings all of his talents and experience to bear to create an exciting, innovative, and entertaining company that produces works that range from the timely to the timeless.

Training

BFA (Magna Cum Laude), MFA (Summa Cum Laude)- University of Utah, American Conservatory Theatre - San Francisco, ABC Television Actor’s Workshop & Harvey Lembeck Comedy Workshop - LA, Voice - Seth Riggs, Ballet West Principal Dancer - 6 yrs -25 years as professional Singer/Dancer/Actor

Performer

Film

A More Perfect Union, She’s Having A Baby, Staying Alive, When the Heat Hits the Street, How Rare a Possession, The Lamb of God, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Limit Up.

Television - Touched by An Angel, Crossroads, Boys of Twilight, Fame, Days of Our Lives, Tracy Ullman Show, Coach, Moonlighting, For the Love of My Daughter, The Young and the Restless, The Stand, Hardcastle & McCormick, General Hospital, A Whole Lot Of Fun, Soup to Nuts, The Music of Your Life, Rodney Dangerfield Special, Country Jamboree, Steppin’ Out, Universal Studios Grand Opening Celebration, The Rose Parade.
Broadway Theatre - A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls, Cats, Shenendoah, Oklahoma!, Cinderella.
Nightclub - Mary Hart, Carol Lawrence, The Horn, Gardenia, Carlos and Charlies, The Sahara, The Mint, The Golden Nugget, The Desert Inn.
Industrial - LA Gear World Tour with Jennifer Love Hewitt, Dominos Pizza, Ford, Dihatsu, Reebok, Kohler, Fila, Levis, Novell.
National Commercials - Broadway, Rogaine

Director/Choreographer

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (3x), Oklahoma!, Tuacahn Amphitheatre: CATS (2x); The Little Mermaid; and Hairspray, Coca-Cola - 2002 Olympics, The Dance, Tahitian Noni Industrial, Usana Convention, Glenn Beck’s The Man in the Moon.

Choreographer

Television - The Stand, The Young and the Restless, The Bold and The Beautiful, Steppin’ Out, Country Jamboree, Touched by An Angel.
Film - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, The Great American West, When the Heat Hits the Street. Music Video - Stevie Nicks, Julio Iglesias, Paul Anka, I Don’t Like Peanuts.
Ballet - Promenades, Punch & Judy, Enya Variations, Saxon Suite, Flight of Icarus, Fresh Aire, Catfish Row, Windchimes, Jelly Roll Blues, Reebach Revival, Dreamtime USA, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Alice in Wonderland, Carnival of the Animals, Sarah’s Letter, Prayer of the Children, Three Preludes. Contemporary - Vision of Love, Move-Dance-Be Born, Thriller, It’s A Wonderful Life, Joy to the World, Let It Be, Sledgehammer, Deep Forest, Staying Alive, Meandres, Haun’s Mill, Motif, The Can Can Club, Giselle, Joplin Variations, Romeo+Juliet, HEAP!, Solimbula, Andante and Chichester Psalms.
Equity Theatre - Utah! (4x), Pippin, South Pacific, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2x), Damn Yankees, Pirates of Penzance, Annie Get Your Gun, The King and I, The Wizard of Oz, Cats (2x).

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

“Odyssey Dance Theatre thrilled the audience with its performance of Chicago Nights! The fantastic choreography and story telling are clear and world class as they brought a new level of aesthetics with Hip Hop, Tap, Jazz and Modern Dance!” - Woflsburg, Germany

"Odyssey...an Intoxicating Cocktail!" - Salt Lake Tribune

"Compelling dance performed to perfection! Young, trim, slim, and athletic ....Great Fun!" - Marilyn Richardson - St. George Spectrum

"Odyssey Dance Theatre struck a chord with the audience with a mixed program that few other groups ac-complish! They twist the classical elements of ballet and jazz into an eclectic blend of perfection." - Kim McDaniel - Salt Lake Tribune

“Odyssey’s dancers were true masters of their craft! Every scene was extensively cheered and applauded and at the end of the show the standing ovations never ended!” - Remscheid, Germany

"Odyssey is finding it's niche in the dance scene! Critics have praised the company for it's broad audience appeal." - Helen Forsberg - Salt Lake Tribune

"Odyssey Dance Utah unleashed a fun-filled evening of eclectic dance mixed with subtle humor and anti-gravity leaps. Odyssey lays itself on the line!" - Scott Iwasaki - Deseret News

“Odyssey Dance Theatre succeded in instantly captivating and thrilling the audience!” - Remsheider Generalazeiger, Germany

"Its time for everyone to take Derryl Yeager's Odyssey Dance Theatre seriously.... - Mike Weatherford - Las Vegas Review Journal

"Odyssey's production of "Thriller" was truly a thrill for the audience, which was at times breathless with laughter, at times fearful and amazed, but always totally en-tertained. The pieces were excitingly choreographed and energetically performed..." - Margaret Godfrey - Salt Lake Tribune

"This is dance! It could hardly be more complex and expressive. It is simply fascinating what the Odyssey Dance Theatre delivers under the artistic direction of Derryl Yeager! It inspires and captivates: It excites and it thrills! An exciting wonderfully danced tribute to Prince - Odyssey Dance Theatre from Salt Lake City is a true pioneer!” - Lippstadt, Germany

"Odyssey's "Thriller”…a delightful "Dance Macabre"....As for humor, there were bucket-loads. Laughs abounded during a "Romeo & Juliet" inspired "Frankenstein & Frankenstein" and "Jason Jam," a work that used a lot of percussive dancing, a la "Stomp," that spotlighted three "Friday the 13th" villains dancing with ice picks, machetes and, of all things, chain saws. The whole idea was cool... - Scott /wasaki - Deseret News

"Sledgehammer - a Fun, Hard-hitting Dance was a celebration of Yeager's likeably over-the-top sensibilities. Odyssey blasted the house with its performance of the two-hour dance-cum-rock concert - closer to a music video than anything else recently performed on the stage at Kingsbury Hall. Artistic director Derryl Yeager and his group of young dancers have established a reputation as the premiere showroom-style company in Utah. All 16 members are proficient at tap, ballet, hip-hop, jazz, and lyrical dancing...a blaze of fireworks!" - Margaret Godfrey - Salt Lake Tribune

"Derryl Yeager's Peter Gabriel Suite, Sledgehammer is a masterpiece! Bravo says it all!" - Scott Iwasaki

"Standing ovations with long-lasting applause were given to the 25 dancers from Odyssey Dance Theatre in Utah, who performed a fantastic and powerful two-hour show during their European tour at the sold-out Worms City Theater.” - Worms, Germany

"If you missed the performance of Odyssey Dance Theatre, you are poorer for it. I suggest that you don't miss the next opportunity to experience some of the finest dancers it has been my pleasure to watch in a long time. If you enjoy watching finely tuned bodies work with a finesse and strength that leaves you breathless...If you enjoy a program that provides variety of emotion expressed through well-constructed and performed choreography...If you enjoy a great combination of various media used in creative ways with a seamless mixture of props and set pieces...Then you will love Odyssey Dance Theatre....an experience as personal for each audience member as the spirit of each exquisite dancer on stage!" - CJ Carl - Talent & Tech Magazine

"If Odyssey Dance Theatre's “Christmas Spectacular” doesn't get you into the holiday spirit, nothing will!" - Deseret News

"Let It Be - Derryl Yeager's full-length Beatles Anthology - is full of Brilliance and Nostalgia!" - Karen Webb - Salt Lake Tribune

"Clever.... Creative....Moving.... Powerful!"

Salt Lake Tribune

repertoire

Thriller

Odyssey Dance Theatre’s production of Thriller is a Halloween Spectacular where the audience will see all their favorite Halloween Characters dancing on stage – Thriller (dancing zombies) , The Curse of the Mummy, Dem Bones (tap dancing Skeletons), Frankenstein dancing with the bride of Frankenstein, Jason Jam, Salem’s Mass, The Lost Boys, and the River of Blood Dance just to name a few. A wonderful variety show with tons of frights and humor!

“Odyssey’s production of “Thriller'' was truly a thrill for the audience, which was at times breathless with laughter, at times fearful and amazed, but always totally entertained. The pieces were excitingly choreographed and energetically performed...” - Margaret Godfrey - Salt Lake Tribune

Christmas Spectacular, Spectacular!

Starring David Osmond

Too busy with so many Christmas productions? You can get your complete Holiday Fix at Odyssey Dance Theatre’s Christmas Spectacular, Spectacular!!

See excerpts from A Christmas Carol, It’s A Wonderful Life, Elf, A Christmas Story, The Nutcracker, The Grinch, White Christmas and the Rockettes! It’s a one stop - show stopping performance that is sure to get your Christmas fix done in one 2 hour performance!

Romeo + Juliet - one funky tale!

An amazing rendition of the classic Shakespearian story - having won numerous awards and accolades! Where competing Hip Hop and Latin Ballroom Gangs and using contemporary music that makes the legend come alive for today’s audience. It also comes with a twist where the audience gets to choose whether they live or die!

Chicago Nights!

What would have happened if Roxie Hart ran into Al Capone! This wonderful romp through Gangland Chicago is a delightful piece of nostalia captures the essence of Prohibition, SpeakEasy’s, Gang Warfare and Murder! Such is the makings of another amazing Odyssey Production!

Let It Be

A smash hit here and on tour - this full-length Beatles Anthology includes all your favorites: Yesterday. Come Together, Help - all in a playful and touching evening.

“Let It Be offers pieces of Brilliance and Nostalgia!” - Salt Lake Tribune

Midsummer Nights Eve - in Vegas!

Yes all the humor and hijinks you’d expect from Shakespeare - set in Las Vegas with contemporary music - a full length like you’ve never seen it before!

MJ

An amazing full length Michael Jackson anthology that captures the essence of the musical genius! All your favorites in one evening of excitedly and nostalgia - Billie Jean, The Way You Make Me Feel, PYT, Working Day and Night, Man in the Mirror, Blame it on the Boogie and more! Standing Ovations in Tel Aviv!

Carmen

The Classic story set around the super popular dance show - Just Dance (like So You Think You Can Dance) - with a plethora of contemporary music and every dance style you can imagine! Ballet, Hip Hop, Ballroom, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap - and even Bollywood!

Giselle

A full-length contemporary classic that uses the original score of Adolphe Adam - but is set in a Starbucks Cafe and Gold’s Gym!

Shut Up & Dance

Odyssey’s spring repertory season where the dancers stretch their artistic muscle and create new, exciting works! “Odyssey Dance Theatre’s Shut Up and Dance season only proves that it is a company to be taken seriously! BRAVO!” Over the years this season has produced over 60 world premiere works from some of the world’s most innovative choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, Liz Imperio, Alex Magno, Dee Caspary, Roni Koresh, Christian Denice and many more! Included in this season are also such masterpieces as Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel Suite), Purple Rain (Prince Anthology, and Staying Alive (Bee Gees of course!) Truly a dance lover’s smorgasbord!