In 1935, in the midst of the great depression, a young Daryl Jervis started the Jervis Studio in Toledo, OH with her brother Quentin and their mother Ida. Quentin, in high school at the time, started teaching tap and ballroom dance to a few students at Wernerts Grade School. Soon they opened a storefront on Douglas Road. Daryl, who had been studying dance, soon began teaching ballet. During World War II, when Quentin was transferred to California to fight with the Flying Tigers, Daryl took over and continued teaching tap, ballet, and baton twirling. After teaching for a year at the Douglas Road location she opened a new space in the local Arthur Murray Studio. Along the way she continued learning, going to Cleveland on Mondays to study tap and ballet and heading monthly to Detroit to study classical ballet. Daryl, along with her mother, spent every summer taking classes in New York, Chicago, and Hollywood. She joined the National Association of Dance Affiliated Artists and taught at the conventions. In 1951 she and her husband Bill purchased an old home at 1717 Jefferson Avenue and refurbished it, transforming it into a facility with six rooms for dance and music instruction. This new location brought a new level of popularity.
Needing to expand, in 1955, they purchased a building on Monroe Street in west Toledo- and it was just the beginning. They opened a studio in the Great Eastern Shopping Center and also in the south end on Glanzman Road. Along with four active studios in Toledo and outskirts, they had Ohio studios in Port Clinton, Oak Harbor, Swanton, Sylvania, Delta, and studios in Blissfield and Adrian, Michigan. Daryl’s students were regulars on a Lloyd Thaxtor’s weekly television talent show, they appeared in the Under the Stars shows at the Toledo Zoo, and were also featured at the Toledo Flower Show. In each late spring, a grand recital was presented titled “The Stairway to the Stars.” Each recital had a specific theme and stage sets. Early shows had live musical performances with vocals students performing as well.
Daryl and Bill began to teach ballroom and etiquette classes. Their ballroom group appeared on TV commercials and at local dinner clubs. They also organized a baton twirling troop, the Seaway Sprites, that performed in numerous parades. Summer sessions were developed. A ‘Dance Wagon’ provided transportation for students. The progressive Daryl Jervis Dance Studio received national recognition and was featured in Show Magazine, with an article written by former student Gloria Steinum.
In 1962, Max Gerber, sports information director for the Toledo University Rockets, asked Daryl to start a group which could entertain during halftime at basketball games. She created the Toledo Rockettes, the first collegiate dance team, a tradition which carries on to this day. They performed at home basketball and football games and traveled as far as New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl and New York City’s Madison Square Garden. In 1965, they were sent on a government assignment. Daryl, Bill and 11 of the Rockettes entertained for eight weeks at Army Non-Commissioned Officer Clubs in southern Germany. Returning, they were greeted by many fans and appeared on local T.V.
In 1986, after nearly 50 years of studying and teaching dance, Daryl retired and moved to Key Largo, Florida. The studio has continued on in her name and still thrives.
Daryl enjoyed her retirement with frequent overseas trips. After hurricane Irma flooded the house in September 2017 she moved to Asheville NC and spent her remaining years there.
Survived by Son Brad Stone, Asheville NC Daughter in law Valerieann, Asheville NC Grandson Philip (Captain), Fort Bragg NC Granddaughter Autumn (PA-C), Annapolis MD Son Brent, McLean VA Daughter in law Linda, McLean VA Grandson Nicholas, NYC NY Grandson Alexander NYC NY Longtime companion Melvin Johnson, Asheville NC Preceded by Husband William Stone, Toledo OH Grandson Russell Stone, Asheville NC
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