O’Dell’s Dance Studio

O’Dell’s Dance Center

O’Dell’s Dance Center did it again. They won Best Dance Studio in the Best of the Parkland awards.

The studio, owned by Mandi Herzog, has won the award for several years.

O’Dell’s Dance Center has been open since 1959 when Jerry O’Dell started the studio in Flat River because there were no studios in town and she wanted her daughter Geri to learn dance. The studio moved to Desloge in 1964. Geri took over the studio when she was 19, and then it was sold to Dee Wampler Courtois, whom Herzog began taking lessons from when she was 5.

In 1987, Bev Holst bought the studio. Herzog became a teaching assistant at age 16 under Holst’s guidance and became a full-time teacher at age 19.

In 2011, Holst sold the studio to Herzog, who opened O’Dell’s with 75 students and the motto “where every student is a star.”

As the fifth owner of the studio, Herzog expanded to a larger location in Desloge with more teachers and assistants. Nearly 200 students are enrolled in various classes including tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, gymnastics, acrobatics, tumbling and music theatre. Students learn skills and perform in an annual recital in May while some students also participate in dance competitions.

Herzog is assisted by Mackenzie Risenhoover who has worked with Herzog since she first purchased the studio.

“I’m truly blessed to live this life and pass my love of dance on to my students in the community where I grew up and am the proud owner of my childhood studio,” said Herzog. “I am so fortunate to get to make a career out of something I love to do.”

Herzog is married to her husband Eric. The couple have three children Luci, Bucklei and Harris.

Mandi Herzog is assisted by Mackenzie Risenhoover with helping students learn dance skills and performance

O’Dell’s Dance Center 521 N . State Street, Desloge Phone: 573-431-2722 Website: OdellsDance .com

ODELLS DANCE