Debbi Jo Thibeau

Debbi Jo Utter has been immersed in the world of dance since the age of two. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri to a mother who was a professional dancer (and the daughter of one of the original Rockettes), and her two younger brothers have danced for the New York City Ballet, on Broadway and on television. But she also counts among her family some 15,000 dancers who have made her Dance Concept their home since 1973. Debbi Jo's dream of providing a comprehensive and supportive home for dancers young and old became a reality in the early 1970s. The students she and her staff have trained have gone on to major ballet companies (New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Ballet Quad Cities) and won national and world-wide awards (Rudolph Nureyev Scholarship, A.C.E. And Jazz Dance World Congress Choreography Awards). DC students have found careers in all aspects of the entertainment industry. They have danced on Broadway (Movin' Out, Billy Elliot, Pal Joey, An American in Paris), in movies (Black Swan, The Muppet Movie, Center Stage, Across the Universe), on television (SMASH, SNL, Victoria Justice, Flesh and Bone), in commercials (Fruit of the Loom, LG, Capezio), on tour (Sky Blu of LMFAO) and in music videos (Black Eyed Peas, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift). Others have found careers in choreography, entertainment law and dance photography. Debbi Jo began her dance training in St. Louis studying under Carmen Thomas. She continued locally with Buster Cooper, Ed Holleman, Larry Howard and Fernando Schaffenburg. Her national dance education included the best: Gus Giordano, Joe Tremaine, Frank Hatchett, and Rick Sullivant. She is a past member of Fort Worth Ballet, Fort Worth Opera Association, and was the choreographer/lead dancer of Granbury Opera House. Debbi Jo is an honor graduate of TCU, a member of Alpha Lambda Delta honor fraternity and Delta Delta Delta sorority.