OUR STORY

In 1960 Donna and Jerry Flint started Flint Dance Studio in the Wade Music Company on South Michigan Street, in South Bend, Indiana. They married in 1958 then relocated from Cleveland Ohio and started their Dance Studio together in 1960. In 1961 the first of their four children were born and as their family grew, their business grew. In 1962 they bought their own studio on Milburn Boulevard in Mishawaka, Indiana where the studio still exists today.

Donna and Jerry met in Cleveland, Ohio at Gene Carol’s Dance Studio when Donna was 15 and Jerry 18. Donna taught dance and managed the studio where Jerry rehearsed his performance group. On short notice one of Jerry's female dancers was unable to fulfill her commitment and Jerry asked Donna to fill in and she agreed, Jerry was very impressed. In 1956 they formed the song and dance trio The Mobiles, traveling and performing regionally. Eventually three was a crowd and Donna and Jerry went on their own and performed throughout the Eastern Seaboard and Canada in nightclub and resort venues such as the Tropicana. The Flint's appeared on several TV shows and worked with performers such as Bob Hope, Andy Williams and Dottie West. Not until years later after being married, as they were sharing stories of their childhood and early careers, they came to realize that they first actually met while performing on the same television show when Donna was only 6 years old and Jerry 9 years old.

Together Donna and Jerry continued to perform as dancers, choreographers and directors of several musical productions throughout the South Bend/Mishawaka community. Some of the organizations they worked with include The Country Playhouse, Presbyterian Players, and Indiana University at South Bend, the South Bend Symphony, South Bend School Corporation, Michiana Opera Guild, and Southold Dance Theatre.

Donna and Jerry were married in 1958 and have three daughters, Sheri, Sheila, Vicki and a son Danny and six grand children. On November 15, 2004 the Flint's and the entire dance community suffered a tremendous loss with Donna's unexpected passing.

 Donna and Jerry’s passion, hard work, professional ethics and love for dance and each other allowed them to work and live very closely together for over 50 years. Flint Dance studio continues to succeed with this at its core.