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Jazzercise instructor Debbie Shaner-Leuck, center, leads Jason Bateman, left, and Marci McCleneghen, right, in a high-energy jazzercise routine.
FRISCO - Before the Thighmaster, before Jane Fonda's workout videos, before Richard Simmons, green tea and carb counters - there was Jazzercise.
But forget about magenta leg warmers, fuzzy headbands, girls in Olivia Newton-John ponytails kicking to the strains of Irene Cara singing "Fame." Jazzercise has definitely evolved.
On a Tuesday morning at Rocky Mountain Dance Studio on Main Street in Frisco, five women and one man gathered for their morning routine. As Britney Spears wailed from a speaker, instructor Debbie Shaner-Leuck started the class off.
"Shoulder roll, hip left, tuck it under!" she called, with the enthusiasm of a cheerleader. "Toes go in, isn't this crazy - lets bring it up, guys!"
The mood is infectious. Jazzercise isn't just an exercise program - it's an attitude.
"Some of us who did this in the '70s are glad that it's back," said Gale Glasson, who taught the first Jazzercise classes in Oregon back in 1979. "It was huge back then - my class used to have as many as 70 people."
Glasson, who has six grandchildren, is a class regular.
"You don't have to be young to do this," she said. "And it sure makes your jeans fit better."
Marci McCleneghen did Jazzercise in Denver as well and comes to several classes a week.
"If you're a woman who likes to dance and you don't have a partner and don't like the nightclub scene, then this is for you," she said.
"Suck it in, guys! Three, two, hold," yelled Shaner-Leuck, and her class sucked it in.
Then everyone began kick-boxing.
"This is why we don't wear leg warmers anymore!" Shaner-Leuck called out.
But forget about magenta leg warmers, fuzzy headbands, girls in Olivia Newton-John ponytails kicking to the strains of Irene Cara singing "Fame." Jazzercise has definitely evolved.
On a Tuesday morning at Rocky Mountain Dance Studio on Main Street in Frisco, five women and one man gathered for their morning routine. As Britney Spears wailed from a speaker, instructor Debbie Shaner-Leuck started the class off.
"Shoulder roll, hip left, tuck it under!" she called, with the enthusiasm of a cheerleader. "Toes go in, isn't this crazy - lets bring it up, guys!"
The mood is infectious. Jazzercise isn't just an exercise program - it's an attitude.
"Some of us who did this in the '70s are glad that it's back," said Gale Glasson, who taught the first Jazzercise classes in Oregon back in 1979. "It was huge back then - my class used to have as many as 70 people."
Glasson, who has six grandchildren, is a class regular.
"You don't have to be young to do this," she said. "And it sure makes your jeans fit better."
Marci McCleneghen did Jazzercise in Denver as well and comes to several classes a week.
"If you're a woman who likes to dance and you don't have a partner and don't like the nightclub scene, then this is for you," she said.
"Suck it in, guys! Three, two, hold," yelled Shaner-Leuck, and her class sucked it in.
Then everyone began kick-boxing.
"This is why we don't wear leg warmers anymore!" Shaner-Leuck called out.
The only male in the class, Jason Bateman, has been doing Jazzercise in Denver for the past two years.
"Guys tend to think this is a girlie thing, but half the guys I know couldn't come out here and do this," said Bateman, trying to catch his breath.
"I challenge any man out there to do this," agreed Shaner-Leuck.
She began isolation ab exercises.
"Maybe I'll be able to fit into my leather pants after this," McCleneghen said.
"It's good to have a goal," Shaner-Leuck quipped, as the class rolled out exercise mats and began lifting handweights.
The world's leading dance and fitness program
Jazzercise was created by Judi Sheppard Missett in 1969 and is still the world's leading dance-fitness program, with 20,000 classes a week being taught worldwide.
"It was the first mainstream, brand-name fitness program," Shaner-Leuck said. "You could take a Jazzercise class anywhere and feel comfortable being in the same environment."
Part of the program's appeal is that it tries to include people not only at every age, but at every fitness level. All of the steps done in class can be individually modified. Shaner-Leuck claimed that, while the program's biggest demographic is women ages 35-55, she has had students in Denver as young as 18 and as old as 88. Several of her Summit County students are in their late 60s.
Another attraction is that Jazzercise has always used real dance steps. Plies, chausses and grapevine crosses, familiar to most dancers, are part of the routines.
Inspired by her love for the dance aspects of the program, Shaner-Leuck went through the six-month process to get certified as an instructor.
"My mom took Jazzercise and I started doing it in college," she said. "I'm not the kind of person who can sit for a long time on a cardio bike. I need more variety in my workout."
"Guys tend to think this is a girlie thing, but half the guys I know couldn't come out here and do this," said Bateman, trying to catch his breath.
"I challenge any man out there to do this," agreed Shaner-Leuck.
She began isolation ab exercises.
"Maybe I'll be able to fit into my leather pants after this," McCleneghen said.
"It's good to have a goal," Shaner-Leuck quipped, as the class rolled out exercise mats and began lifting handweights.
The world's leading dance and fitness program
Jazzercise was created by Judi Sheppard Missett in 1969 and is still the world's leading dance-fitness program, with 20,000 classes a week being taught worldwide.
"It was the first mainstream, brand-name fitness program," Shaner-Leuck said. "You could take a Jazzercise class anywhere and feel comfortable being in the same environment."
Part of the program's appeal is that it tries to include people not only at every age, but at every fitness level. All of the steps done in class can be individually modified. Shaner-Leuck claimed that, while the program's biggest demographic is women ages 35-55, she has had students in Denver as young as 18 and as old as 88. Several of her Summit County students are in their late 60s.
Another attraction is that Jazzercise has always used real dance steps. Plies, chausses and grapevine crosses, familiar to most dancers, are part of the routines.
Inspired by her love for the dance aspects of the program, Shaner-Leuck went through the six-month process to get certified as an instructor.
"My mom took Jazzercise and I started doing it in college," she said. "I'm not the kind of person who can sit for a long time on a cardio bike. I need more variety in my workout."
Now in her fifth year of teaching, Shaner-Leuck is franchise owner of her Jazzercise class, the only one in Summit County. She opened the class last August.
Shaner-Leuck pays Jazzercise 20 percent, and the company provides the logos and workout routines on DVD. It's up to her to decide which ones she wants to implement.
Jazzercise also sends Shaner-Leuck the music recordings - with the proviso that half of the songs she uses must be current pop hits. After that, anything goes.
During Tuesday's class the participants danced to Britney and Usher.
"I still do a lot of '80s stuff like Aerosmith," she said. "Then I throw in oldies. When I play 'My Sharona,' everyone gets real excited."
Widening the appeal
According to Shaner-Leuck, Jazzercise has always been popular. But the company has recently begun to reach out more to a younger generation.
"The people who loved it back in the '80s are still with us," she said. "But it's all part of the national evolution of the fitness industry.
"Now, it's more focused on high-impact aerobics and core muscle work. Jazzercise has kept its core principles, but now it brings in pilates and taebo and yoga and kickboxing."
Class attendance in Frisco ranges from 8-10 participants. Shaner-Leuck's goal is to get enough students to fill two classes a day, five days a week.
"People say, 'I ski, I bike,' and they think they don't need it," Shaner-Lueck said. "I don't care how much of that you do - you've gotta work the cardiovascular part."
For newcomers, she recommends trying at least three classes.
Shaner-Leuck pays Jazzercise 20 percent, and the company provides the logos and workout routines on DVD. It's up to her to decide which ones she wants to implement.
Jazzercise also sends Shaner-Leuck the music recordings - with the proviso that half of the songs she uses must be current pop hits. After that, anything goes.
During Tuesday's class the participants danced to Britney and Usher.
"I still do a lot of '80s stuff like Aerosmith," she said. "Then I throw in oldies. When I play 'My Sharona,' everyone gets real excited."
Widening the appeal
According to Shaner-Leuck, Jazzercise has always been popular. But the company has recently begun to reach out more to a younger generation.
"The people who loved it back in the '80s are still with us," she said. "But it's all part of the national evolution of the fitness industry.
"Now, it's more focused on high-impact aerobics and core muscle work. Jazzercise has kept its core principles, but now it brings in pilates and taebo and yoga and kickboxing."
Class attendance in Frisco ranges from 8-10 participants. Shaner-Leuck's goal is to get enough students to fill two classes a day, five days a week.
"People say, 'I ski, I bike,' and they think they don't need it," Shaner-Lueck said. "I don't care how much of that you do - you've gotta work the cardiovascular part."
For newcomers, she recommends trying at least three classes.
Besides the workout, the main thing is for everyone to have a good time.
"This is so rewarding," she said. "When I see my class smiling, it's uplifting for me.
"It reiterates why I do this - to better people's lives."
Keely Brown can be contacted at (970) 668-3998, ext. 13623 or at kbrown@summitdaily.com.
Kick and Step and ...
Where: Rocky Mountain Dance Academy, downstairs in Frisco Mall between Fourth and Fifth streets on Main Street
When: Tuesday/Thursday mornings at 9 a.m., and
Monday/Thursday evenings at 6 p.m.
Price: $30 a month or $80 for an eight-week pass, $10 walk-in ($5 with Jazzercise membership elsewhere)
Specials: $20 for first month through Jan. 1, 2006
Contact: Call Debbie
Shaner-Leuck at (970) 409-9082
"This is so rewarding," she said. "When I see my class smiling, it's uplifting for me.
"It reiterates why I do this - to better people's lives."
Keely Brown can be contacted at (970) 668-3998, ext. 13623 or at kbrown@summitdaily.com.
Kick and Step and ...
Where: Rocky Mountain Dance Academy, downstairs in Frisco Mall between Fourth and Fifth streets on Main Street
When: Tuesday/Thursday mornings at 9 a.m., and
Monday/Thursday evenings at 6 p.m.
Price: $30 a month or $80 for an eight-week pass, $10 walk-in ($5 with Jazzercise membership elsewhere)
Specials: $20 for first month through Jan. 1, 2006
Contact: Call Debbie
Shaner-Leuck at (970) 409-9082
