Jazzercize Bucks & Oxon have been running classes in the area for over 10 years. This week they have been awarded a "Satellite Select" status which is a recognition of the amount and quality of classes, as well as the variety of instructors and the standards of business practice. This means that they are one of only 9 internationally.
Jazzercise is going to be 50 next year, which is an incredible achievement in a crowded fitness market. It was founded in 1969 by a Jazz dancer, Judi Shepard Missett, who turned her love of dance into a global fitness franchise. Jazzercise remains a family company, with her daughter now heavily involved in the business and Grand daughters showing promise. Judi, in her 70's, continues to choreograph and is the greatest advocate of change and growth - without that she would not still be in business!
Janey Enticott runs Jazzercise Thame and has a dance background too, having studied ballet and contemporary dance as a degree at the prestigious Trinity Laban in London. She discovered Jazzercise about 18 years ago, and after 8 years as a customer, trained as an instructor.
Jayney said: "We have classes three evenings a week at John Hampden School, (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and Saturday mornings at Lord Williams's Lower School. In total there are 28 local classes every week, covering all ages and fitness levels. I do after school children's classes, we have two classes specifically for Secondary age pupils, (which is a great activity for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, I have mentored many Bronze, 3 Silver and two Golds!), a gentle class using chairs for the less energetic, and 5 strength and toning classes. The music is varied, definitely not just Jazz, a huge mixture of popular chart music from artists as diverse as Ariana Grande, Pitbull, One Republic, Jess Glynn, Michael Buble!
We have 6 qualified instructors working together in the area, which means a nice variety of styles of teaching, but all to a very high standard, particularly as we have the UK Training Specialist as part of the team.
I was so proud to have achieved the Satellite Select status. It's a recognition of the hard work to keep our expectations as high as possible with the help of a fabulous team. Everybody loves to dance, and it doesn't matter if you think you can't, just moving with the music and getting your heart rate up is a great way to get fit and stay motivated. I absolutely love my job, the people we meet come from all walks of life and all have their own story and reasons to come to class. It's one big family, all ages and abilities, just enjoying working out and laughing."
To find out more about Jazzercise please visit https://jazzercise.net/uk-thame/
