Jazzercise History

Complete Jazzercise History (PDF)

1969
Judi Sheppard Missett conceives of a fun dance-fitness class that evolves into Jazzercise. She teaches the class in an Evanston, Illinois dance studio between performances as a professional dancer.

1972
The Missett family moves to northern San Diego County, California. Judi begins to teach classes at the La Jolla YMCA and Oceanside Parks and Recreation.

1977
Judi holds the first workshops to train instructors. Jazzercise begins to spread around the country when trained instructors move to other areas and open classes.

The first corporate Jazzercise office opens in Carlsbad, California.

1979
Jazzercise begins videotaping routines that are sent to certified instructors – and thus lays the groundwork for creating consistent choreography nationwide.

Jazzercise goes international with classes in Europe, Brazil, and Japan.

1980
Jazzertogs by Jazzercise is established, offering a complete line of fitness apparel, activewear, fitness accessories, Jazzercise DVDs and logo merchandise.

1983
Jazzercise begins franchising its instructors.

Jazzercise spreads to all 50 United States.

1984
The first Jazzercise home workout videocassette, titled Jazzercise, goes gold with 25,000 copies sold.

JM Television Productions becomes a division of Jazzercise.

1986
President Ronald Reagan names Judi “Top Woman Entrepreneur.”

1989
Jazzerjam Chicago ’89 brings 6,000 Jazzercise customers and instructors together for a three-day health and beauty expo and convention honoring Judi’s 20th year in the fitness industry. The event ends with Judi leading all participants in the world’s largest aerobic-dance class ever.

1991
President George Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger invite Judi to participate in the “Great American Workout” at the White House promoting National Fitness Month and children’s fitness issues.

Ernst & Young Inc., Merrill Lynch, and the Union-Tribune Publishing Company honor Judi as the “San Diego Female Entrepreneur of the Year.”

1991
Jazzercise launches Kids Get Fit – a free fitness activity and classroom learning program, reaching 95,000 children in its first year.

1992
IDEA, the International Association for Fitness Professionals, inducts Judi into its Hall of Fame along with fellow IDEA Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Jane Fonda, Kenneth Cooper, Jack LaLanne and Jackie Sorenson.

1998
Debut of CyberStretch by Jazzercise, an innovative computer screen saver designed to help prevent repetitive stress injuries.

The Jazzercise Convention Series hits more than 30 locations throughout the U.S. as well as internationally.

1999
Jazzercise celebrates its 30-year anniversary with more than 4,000 participants attending Jazzerjam ’99 in San Diego, California from August 5-8.

The World’s Largest Jazzercise Benefit for breast cancer research is held, raising more than $1.2 million and boosting the total amount Jazzercise has raised for the Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center since 1993 to more than $3 million.

Judi is honored as a March of Dimes 1999 Mother of the Year in San Diego, California.

2003
Jazzercise releases four new home DVD products: Pure Jazzercise, Stretch by Jazzercise, Body Sculpt & Strength, and Street Jazz!

Jazzercise experiences unprecedented growth internationally, leading to its most profitable year on record.

2006
Jazzercise produces its first in a series of video podcasts for travelers entitled, “Workout Wherever,” which is available for free download on iTunes.

2007
Jazzercise ranks #35 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s list of top 500 franchises; ranks #5 in fastest growing franchises.

Judi Sheppard Missett is a featured entrepreneur in Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur’s Soul.

Judi Sheppard Missett is an inaugural recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

2008
Jazzercise ranks #2 on the San Diego Business Journal’s list of top 50 women owned businesses in San Diego County.

Judi Sheppard Missett joined a select group of women U.S. political and business leaders for the Stellar Women’s Leadership Delegation to China.

Jazzercise posts its most successful year in the company’s 39-year history with system wide sales topping $93 million. The increase marked the seventh consecutive year Jazzercise posted system wide sales growth.

Jazzercise now has more than 7,500 instructors teaching 32,000 classes weekly in all 50 states and 32 countries worldwide.

2009
Jazzercise celebrates its 40th anniversary in Chicago, where Judi Sheppard Missett began with a single class in 1969; more than 1,000 Jazzercise enthusiasts from all over the world worked out together in a series of Jazzercise classes at Chicago’s Union Station; a reception followed at the Art Institute of Chicago’s new Modern Wing.

Jazzercise partners with Cheryl Burke, professional dancer and two-time winner of the popular ABC TV show “Dancing with the Stars.” Burke serves as a Jazzercise spokesperson in a variety of marketing campaigns including TV, print, radio and Internet campaigns.

Jazzercise hires 92 quality coordinators throughout the United States to improve the quality of Jazzercise classes by evaluating and coaching instructors as well as conducting Jazzercise movement screenings and workshops.

Jazzercise posted its eighth consecutive year of systemwide sales growth topping $94 million – best in company history.

Jazzercise ranks #18 overall on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list; #5 in Top Home-Based Franchises; #6 in Low Cost Franchises; #14 in Global Franchises; and #17 in Fastest Growing Franchises

Jazzercise ranks #2 on the San Diego Business Journal’s list of top 50 women-owned businesses in San Diego.

2010
Shanna Missett Nelson named President of Jazzercise, Inc.

More than 1,200 Jazzercise franchisees from around the world converged on New Orleans for the Elite Instructor Convention to learn business and movement techniques and strategies to bring their Jazzercise businesses to an elite level.

Jazzercise Fitness Center in La Costa, Calif. opens.

Jazzercise partners with Back in the Swing, a grassroots nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to providing awareness, access and financial support for breast cancer survivorship programs and academic medical research in the field of breast cancer survivorship.