How I Built This with Guy Raz Jazzercise: Judi Sheppard Missett
Jan 18, 2021
Judi Sheppard Missett, founder of Jazzercise, shares her inspiring journey from teaching dance to creating a revolutionary fitness program that combined fun and exercise. She reveals how Jazzercise broke new ground in the group fitness industry and discusses the challenges of balancing motherhood with her choreography career. Judi reflects on the program's evolution alongside the women's rights movement, emphasizing community and inclusivity. Her resilience in the face of skepticism paved the way for a $100 million legacy that continues to empower women today.
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Early Dance Journey
- Judy Sheppard Missett's dance journey began at age two when she wandered into a dance studio and instinctively started dancing.
- Recognizing her talent, the teacher urged her mother to enroll her in dance classes.
Basement Studio
- At 13, encouraged by her community, Judy opened a dance studio in her parents' basement.
- Within three months, she had 100 students, demonstrating her early entrepreneurial spirit.
Disguised Pregnancy
- In 1968, Judy disguised her pregnancy to maintain her choreography job at the Gaslight Club.
- Two days before giving birth, she was still choreographing, highlighting her dedication and the societal pressures of the time.