In the early 1950s on the front porch of a Sullivan’s Island home, a young Johanna Runey Tapio started teaching dance to the neighborhood kids. It wasn’t a business yet, it was just something she loved to do. That porch became her first classroom, and in 1956, Johanna’s School of Dance was born. She had ambition and drive, and with that, the seed she planted took root. That young girl’s dream grew to become the studio we know and love today, Tapio School of Dance & Gymnastics.
Nearly 70 years later, Johanna’s family is still at it. Johanna’s daughter Susan Breland and her husband Steve Breland began running the Mount Pleasant location in 1979. Now, three of their children bring in the third generation of leadership. During my visit, I had the privilege of sitting down with Susan and three of her children: Stevie, Callie and Jenna, but the Tapio family is made up of so much more. They have thrived thanks to several generations of dancers, teachers, staff members and families who’ve all found a home here (blood related or not). And while much has changed since Johanna’s porch days, the core of Tapio hasn’t. It’s still about helping kids grow (in dance, gymnastics and beyond) and treating every family who walks in the door like one of their own.
Running a business with your family can be tricky, but for the Tapio team, it’s a treat. “People don’t understand how we can do it,” Callie said. “But we love being around each other and we wouldn’t want it any other way.” Their workdays run into weekends. Sunday beach days often include coworkers. Dance and gymnastics talk sneaks into family dinners, but it feels natural to them because they love what they do.
“We focus on confidence first,” Susan said. “The kids who struggle at first often grow the most. We want every child to see their value, even if they don’t see it in themselves yet. Some of my favorite memories have come from helping a shy kid find their strength.” That sentiment is exactly why families find a second home here.
This strong foundation has helped the business weather the natural ups and downs that come with any long-running venture. Mount Pleasant has grown a lot since Susan was a child. Families move here without knowing anybody, and she loves to be their home away from home. Parents go to work knowing their kids are somewhere safe, supported and challenged. Some of those kids stay for a decade or more. Next year marks Tapio’s 70th anniversary, and they’re planning a special recital to celebrate. The show will feature returning dancers and gymnasts, with multiple generations performing together under one roof; a living testament to the legacy they’ve built.
For Stevie, that cycle of return is what makes the work worth it. “Working here never felt like something I had to do, I got involved because I wanted to be,” he said. “I started helping with day camp when I was 13 or 14 — I even got to teach my younger siblings. It’s amazing to be part of these big moments for kids and their parents. That’s a huge responsibility, and I take it very seriously.”
The studio itself has grown alongside the family and they plan to open a second location in 2026. What started as a small community dance school has become a full-service studio offering both competitive and recreational dance and gymnastics, after-school care and summer programs. Still, the mission hasn’t shifted. Tapio has always been about more than performance.
Instead of focusing on outshining competitors, their approach is rooted in connection: Keep things personal, stay consistent and treat everyone with love and kindness. “You can’t win every time,” Susan said. “And that’s not what it’s about. We want kids to learn how to handle all of it — the wins and the losses. That’s where the real lessons are.”
To them, progress matters more than perfection. The goal is to help each child grow, not just perform. And it’s not just the family that is making it happen. Longtime staff members are woven into the fabric of the studio. “We couldn’t do this without them,” Jenna said. “They are family too. Whether it’s a blood relation or not.”
This blend of loyalty and heart is what has kept Tapio School of Dance & Gymnastics going strong for nearly 70 years and will carry it forward in the decades to come. Together, they’ve built a place where everyone belongs.
By Allyah Harrar
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