Jazzercise News Releases

A Family Affair of Thousands for Jazzercise

Jazzerjam 2003 Provides Perspective on Company's Founding Vision

LAS VEGAS (July 25, 2003) — When Judi Sheppard Missett first turned her 15-student dance class away from the mirror, cranked up the music and let them boogie to the beat free of criticism, she didn't realize she had hit on an exercise empire. And as the cultural icon known as "Jazzercise" grew, Missett added the help of her family to make the company a $62 million success, with key relatives as vice presidents and department managers.

Now, nearly 34-years later, as thousands of Jazzercisers travel across the globe to be taught by the matriarch of dance fitness, Missett says the company and the program have the "family feel" for which she's been striving.

More than 4,000 of Missett's students from 13 countries worldwide are gathering in Las Vegas July 24 - 27 for Jazzerjam 2003, a quadrennial tradition that reunites faithfuls from around the world for a weekend of exercise, seminars and entertainment. The event marks the first sellout in Jazzerjam history and falls when the company is on pace to better last year's $62 million sales record. Though it's a far cry from her start as an 11-year-old dance teacher for neighborhood kids, Missett says the event is both a figurative and literal "family reunion" that continues to remind her of why she first entered the business.

"I've tried to put together a program and a company that is more 'kin' than 'corporate' in every aspect," Missett says, "and when I can teach thousands of students and see them really enjoy dancing with their friends, I know that vision persists."

In fact, the now CEO of a multimillion-dollar company is quick to point out how she maintains that family feel at work and in the field. Although her endeavors have expanded into speaking engagements, books, videos, computer software and a fitness clothing line, classes continue to thrive in school cafeterias, community centers and church basements, preserving the original down-home experience. At headquarters, she's enlisted the help of her family and friends, who naturally have a passion for the business—daughter Shanna, serves as executive vice president; husband Jack heads up JM DigitalWorks, the company's audio and visual division; and several nieces and students who have been with her from the beginning fill a variety of director and management positions. The goal has been to create an environment where people feel accepted, and where everyone respects the boss's vision: No mirrors. No judgment. No pressure.

It's the "just for fun" philosophy that Missett says imbues her entire company, and has kept it successful for three decades in an industry of fads. The company recently released two new fitness DVDs, continues to attract a steady stream of new franchisees, with an average of 540 certifications each year since 1999, and consistently makes Entrepreneur magazine's list of top global franchises. Classes now span all 50 states and internationally— for a total of 19,000 classes weekly worldwide. The passion her company builds in its participants is obvious at events like Jazzerjam, which continue to grow in size, scope and status every year.

Still, Missett says she would rather focus on helping her students and promoting good fitness habits than on the fame that comes from legions of Jazzercise fans. She continues to personally instruct a minimum of three classes a week and choreographs each of the program's new routines every couple of months which maintains her connection to the roots of the company.

"My Jazzercise family is as important to me as my immediate family," she says. In many cases, luckily, they're one in the same.

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Jazzercise, created by Judi Sheppard Missett, is the world's leading dance-fitness program with more than 6,800 instructors teaching 30,000 classes weekly in the U.S. and around the globe. Since 1969, millions of people of all ages and fitness levels have reaped the benefits of this comprehensive program, designed to enhance cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility. For more information, go to jazzercise.com or call (800)FIT-IS-IT.