As children in the 1920s, Angela, Jane and Louise Vella regularly traveled by train to New York City with their mother Margaret, who wanted them to acquire an appreciation of dance by taking lessons and seeing world-class performances.

The Vella sisters were quick studies. By 1937, they were running a studio in the dining room of their Canonsburg home. Their reputations grew and the Vellas expanded their lessons to 13 sites through the region. The fourth generation of students is now taking lessons in a Vella studio.

Among the early hoofers in their studios: Canonsburg boys by the name of Perry Como and Bobby Vinton, who clearly learned all the right moves.

Today, Louise Vella's daughter, Donna Grove, 65, is keeping her family legacy alive through the Vella Dance Studio, now with locations in Scott and Houston, Washington County.

Ms. Grove directed "Celebrate," a recital in honor of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the dance studio June 13 and 14 in Canon-McMillan High School in Canonsburg. About 500 dancers, age 2 to 70, from the two studios performed ballet, jazz, tap, baton, gymnastics and hip-hop.

Louise Vella D'Amico died at age 83 shortly after proofing the program for the 2000 recital at Canon-McMillan.

"She was involved up to the end, and at the studio every day, sometimes dancing to demonstrate moves," Ms. Grove said of her mother. Ms. Grove also runs dance programs for the recreation departments of Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair.

Following her mother's death, she closed the Canonsburg studio after 67 years and relocated to a new, larger one in Houston.

Ms. Grove remembers often visiting New York City because her mother, following her own mother's legacy, wanted to expose her to a variety of dancing styles and music.

Still, despite all those dance lessons, Ms. Grove chose to study elementary education at California University of Pennsylvania.

For the next six years, she worked as a teacher in the South Fayette School District. At the same time, she conducted weekly dance lessons at the Bower Hill Civic Center in Scott, eventually succumbing to the family passion on a permanent basis.

"I missed dancing too much, so I gave teaching up and got back," she said. "And once I got back into it, I was full-fledged."

A particular joy in her work, said Ms. Grove, is furthering the legacy of the Vella sisters, all of whom are deceased.

She buys costumes from Cicci Dance Supplies and Creations by Cicci, in Finleyville, which was founded by her aunt, Jane Vella Cicci.

Angela Vella Ghelarducci, who graduated from The Juilliard School, composed children's music for dance studios, some of which can still be purchased. Ms. Grove uses the originals in her work.

"They were very creative and ahead of their time," Ms. Grove said of her family.

"Anyone I run into still mentions what taking lessons at the Vella studios has meant to them," she said.