62 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com family 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. Stretching Success Tapio School of Dance & Gymnastics BY ALLYAH HARRAR The Tapio Team: Callie, Susan, Stevie, and Jenna
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