Pinellas Studio of Dance: A Legacy of Dance in Pinellas Park, FL

Last updated May 20, 2026

Pinellas Studio of Dance: More Than Six Decades of Dance Instruction

Pinellas Studio of Dance has been part of the fabric of Pinellas County since 1962, making it one of the longest-running dance education programs in the region. Operating across seven locations in St. Petersburg and Gulfport, the studio serves students of all ages and ability levels, from young children taking their first tap steps to adults pursuing private lessons. Its reach extends well beyond a single storefront, with programming woven into parks and recreation centers throughout the area.

The studio's longevity isn't accidental. Pinellas Studio of Dance built its reputation on accessible instruction, a welcoming atmosphere, and a consistent emphasis on building confidence alongside technique. Families who enroll one child often return with siblings years later, and some have been part of the community for a generation. That kind of retention speaks to something real about how the studio operates.

Today, the studio is co-owned and operated by Wendy Selleck and Lisa Walker, who took over from founder Judith Lee (Johnson) Hughes in 2017. Both women have deep personal histories with the studio, and their leadership reflects a genuine investment in carrying its mission forward.

History and Founding Story of Pinellas Studio of Dance

The studio's story begins with Judith Lee (Johnson) Hughes, who opened the Judith Lee Johnson School of Dance in 1962 with a clear goal: to make dance education accessible to the broader community. For decades, the school grew steadily, earning a reputation for quality instruction and a supportive learning environment.

At some point in its evolution, the studio expanded its reach through a partnership with the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department's Therapeutic Recreation Department, creating a program called City Dancers. That expansion brought dance classes to additional recreation centers across St. Petersburg and Gulfport, growing the studio's footprint to seven locations. The partnership also introduced dance programming specifically designed for special needs participants, a dimension of the studio's work that sets it apart from most private dance schools.

After more than five decades at the helm, Judith Lee Hughes retired in 2017. She entrusted the studio to Wendy Selleck, her senior instructor, and Lisa Walker, who had served as the studio's administrator. The transition preserved the culture and curriculum that Hughes had built while positioning the studio for continued growth under two people who had lived it from the inside.

Classes, Programs, and Services at Pinellas Studio of Dance

The studio offers a broad curriculum that covers traditional and contemporary styles. Students can choose from a range of class formats depending on their goals and experience levels.

• Ballet: foundational technique taught across age groups and skill levels
• Tap: a longtime staple of the curriculum, taught by instructors with decades of experience in the form
• Jazz: energetic and expressive, offered alongside ballet and tap as part of a well-rounded dance education
• Hip-hop: a more recent addition to the class lineup, reflecting the studio's willingness to expand with student interest
• Private lessons: one-on-one instruction for students who want focused attention on technique or preparation for auditions and competitions
• Summer camps: seasonal programming that gives students an intensive, immersive dance experience during school breaks
• Line dance for special needs participants: offered in partnership with the Therapeutic Recreation Department of the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department

The special needs programming deserves particular attention. Most dance studios in the area focus exclusively on typically developing students. Pinellas Studio of Dance made a deliberate choice to partner with a municipal recreation department and bring dance instruction to participants who might not otherwise have access to it. That decision reflects a broader understanding of what dance education can do beyond competitive performance.

The multi-location model also means the studio is genuinely accessible across a wide geographic area. With seven sites spread across St. Petersburg and Gulfport, families aren't limited to a single facility or schedule.

Team and Leadership at Pinellas Studio of Dance

The studio's current leadership team brings a combined history that spans the full arc of Pinellas Studio of Dance's modern era.

• Wendy Selleck, Co-Owner and Instructor: Wendy has been teaching dance for more than 30 years, with deep expertise in ballet, tap, and jazz. She was Judith Lee Hughes's senior instructor before taking over co-ownership in 2017. Her teaching approach emphasizes nurturing dancers of all ages, and her long tenure has given her a devoted group of returning students who have followed her instruction across years and sometimes decades.
• Lisa Walker, Co-Owner: Lisa's connection to the studio began more than 22 years ago when her daughter enrolled as a student. Over time, she became involved in the administrative operations of the studio and eventually took on a co-ownership role alongside Wendy. Her background in business and her personal history as a dance parent give her a practical perspective on what families need from a studio experience.

The fact that both owners have long personal histories with the studio before taking leadership roles matters. They didn't acquire a business from the outside; they grew into it from within. That continuity shows in how the studio operates and how staff interact with students and families.

In the Press and Community Milestones

A local news feature highlighted a mother-daughter duo who have spent more than 25 years connected to Pinellas Studio of Dance, illustrating the multi-generational relationships the studio has built over time. That kind of feature is less about a single news event and more about the accumulated weight of a community institution doing its work consistently over decades.

The studio's expansion to seven locations across St. Petersburg and Gulfport represents a significant operational milestone. Growing from a single school founded in 1962 to a multi-site program embedded in municipal recreation centers reflects sustained demand and a level of community trust that takes years to build.

Each year, Pinellas Studio of Dance awards six scholarships to students who demonstrate dedication and passion for dance. Scholarship programs at studios this size aren't common, and the annual commitment to six awards signals a concrete investment in keeping dance accessible to students who might otherwise face financial barriers.

What Students and Families Say About Pinellas Studio of Dance

Reviews from families connected to the studio point consistently to two things: the quality of instruction and the atmosphere in which that instruction happens. Students don't just learn steps; they gain confidence, and the people around them seem to genuinely care about that outcome.

PSOD has a unique dance experience with an emphasis on building your child's confidence by learning in the most supportive of environments.

- Wyatt Sanders

That focus on confidence-building shows up in how long families stay connected to the studio. Wendy Gregory's review captures what long-term enrollment looks like from a parent's perspective.

Wonderful dance studio to be apart of. They treat you like family. My daughter has been attending PSOD since she was in kindergarten and only has a few more years left. She has learned and grown so much and really enjoys it.

- Wendy Gregory

Reviewer Cody Haynes pointed to the instructors specifically, noting their talent and the genuine enthusiasm they bring to teaching. That combination of skill and passion is what tends to keep students coming back season after season.

Location and Community: Serving Pinellas County

Pinellas Studio of Dance is based in Pinellas Park, Florida, and serves the broader Pinellas County area, with active programming in St. Petersburg and Gulfport. The studio's multi-site structure means it operates where families already are, rather than requiring everyone to travel to a central location. For families in St. Petersburg or Gulfport, there's likely a class location within a reasonable distance.

The partnership with the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department is the most visible expression of the studio's community orientation. By embedding dance programming into public recreation centers and specifically designing curriculum for special needs participants through the Therapeutic Recreation Department, the studio functions as more than a private business. It serves a public function in the communities where it operates.

For those looking to connect with the studio directly, more information about class schedules, locations, and enrollment is available at pinellasstudioofdance.com. The studio's Pinellas Park base keeps it central to the county it serves.

Why Choose Pinellas Studio of Dance

Sixty-plus years of continuous operation, seven active locations, a scholarship program, and a special needs partnership represent a track record that most dance studios simply don't have. Wendy Selleck's three decades of teaching experience and Lisa Walker's long administrative history with the studio mean the current leadership team isn't learning on the job. They've been part of this institution long enough to understand what makes it work.

Families looking for a studio where their child will be treated as an individual, where the emphasis is on growth and confidence rather than just performance, and where the instructors have genuine experience across ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop will find what they're looking for here. The multi-generational relationships the studio has built over decades aren't a marketing point; they're the natural result of doing this work well, consistently, for a very long time.

Customer quotes shown above are from public Google reviews.