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Odyssey Dance Theatre finds artistic inspiration in two very different places — stylizing classic stories and synthesizing pop music into spectacular dance montages. ODT continues this blueprint as it rounds out its 21st season with two premieres, "Prodigals" and "MJ," part of its annual spring "Shut Up & Dance" series.

ODT's artistic staff often takes a team approach to choreography, but this time artistic director Derryl Yeager commissioned rising star Garrett Smith to wrestle the parable of the prodigal son to the stage. For the second half of the program, he asked Emmy Award winner Bonnie Story to put her spin on a celebration of pop icon Michael Jackson.

Both choreographers are Utah natives whose careers are taking them across the globe amassing sky miles as quickly as dance steps.

Story's reputation is in film, video and large-scale live productions. Her recent and upcoming jobs include a haute couture Redken show in Barcelona, the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 and Alex Boyé's Christmas show.

Yeager asked Story to choreograph the three most significant sections in "MJ" because of her longtime professional relationship with Jackson. In addition to other shows, she danced in Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," the music video that won multiple awards in 1989.

When Story reflects on Jackson's character, it is not conjecture; when she choreographs to his music, it is not imitative. Story asked Vincent Paterson for permission to use his iconic moves from "Smooth Criminal," and Michael Peters to use his material from the celebrated "Beat It." She edited them into one piece honoring the two revered choreographers who she said "forever changed the youth culture and the dance and music industry."

In addition to that compilation for the Jackson tribute, Story created choreography to the up-tempo "The Way You Make Me Feel" and the socially conscious "Earth Song." For the first, she said she crafted a piece in the style of dance legend Fred Astaire because "Michael studied and admired Astaire and other innovators like Gene Kelly." Next, she took on "Earth Song" using 26 dancers, because it "was very special to Michael."

Smith's professional life has taken him on a different path. He trained at Utah Regional Ballet in Lindon and then Houston Ballet Academy. He began choreographing for Houston Ballet II while still a student and has continued making dances for such contemporary and classical ballet companies as New York City Ballet Choreographic Institute, Norwegian National Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet West and Houston Ballet. He donates a significant amount of time to the Draper-based SALT Contemporary Dance and is under a professional contract with Norwegian National Ballet.

This is his first time choreographing a story ballet, complete with a must-follow narrative and characters from the well-known lost-son parable. The major issue in choreographing a narrative is how to reveal something new about the story that has not already been achieved.

"Unlike many Romantic-era classical ballets, this story is something that can happen in life and is very relatable," Smith said. "The story of making life decisions that bring difficult challenges is real and hopefully you meet someone along the way that helps you through."

Smith's two additional characters in "Prodigals" bring a modern-day perspective to the biblical parable (Luke 15:11-32) and differentiate it from other versions, such as George Balanchine's "The Prodigal Son" (1929).

The role of the family cook, who finds the main character down on his luck and helps him find his way home, lends a modern-day twist — you don't have to continue to suffer to be forgiven.

"I added the family cook/housekeeper to represent that friend or person who goes out of their way for you," Smith said. "The character is complex and helps tie everything together."

Smith has drawn on his experience as a dancer and as an audience member to appeal to viewers.

"I try to imagine how the audience is going to see it," he said. "My goal is to emotionally connect with people. There is no point in choreographing unless there is someone to experience and to share with." —

'Shut Up & Dance'

Odyssey Dance Theatre's annual spring series includes three rotating shows that feature two previously presented works, "Romeo + Juliet" and "Carmen," and one new evening of dance: premieres of "Prodigals" by Garrett Smith and "MJ," with choreography by Bonnie Story.

When • March 9-19: "Romeo + Juliet," March 9, 15 and 18, 7:30 p.m., and March 12, 2 p.m.; "Carmen," March 10, 12 and 16, 7:30 p.m., and March 19, 2 p.m.; and "The Prodigals/MJ," March 11, 14, 17 and 19, 7:30 p.m.

Where • Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $20-$40; tickets.utah.edu, more information at odysseydance.com