The evolution of group fitness had changed dramatically from its roots when Judi Sheppard Missett introduced Jazzercise in 1969. The Jazzercise program, cleverly named by combining the terms jazz and exercise, was created to be more of a workout and less of a traditional dance lesson or choreography class.
The Jazzercise format was a 55-minute class with choreography consisting of dance and exercise moves set to fun upbeat music. A simple format, but one that would change the course of the fitness industry.
Since Jazzercise's introduction, many different fitness classes and franchises have been created by taking the same format and adding a little twist of spice to it.
“Spice” was accidentally added to the dance fitness format in the '80s, inadvertently creating one of today's most prominent fitness franchises.
In 1986, Colombian fitness instructor Beto Perez accidentally forgot to bring his regular music mix to an aerobics class he was teaching and decided to use salsa and merengue music instead of canceling the class. The accident of the then 16-year-old instructor would lead him to create a fitness brand estimated to be worth millions and practiced by 15 million people in 180 countries each week called Zumba.
Zumba routines are choreographed to the music styles of salsa, reggaeton, merengue, and cumbia using some or all of the sixteen (16) core steps. The franchise sets these standards and is continuously providing instructors with new music and pre-choreographed routines.
However, some instructors forge their own paths to fulfill creative needs. One such instructor who has created his own fitness format by choreographing routines to hits that can be found on Billboard’s Hot 100 list is Mark Lewis, MarkyMark Dance.
Lewis, 34, has been teaching group fitness classes for almost a decade but mentions he almost stopped dancing, “Dance is my passion but I kind of lost the spark a few years back.”
Teaching and choreographing is all that MarkyMark Dance is planning for the near future. While he is uncertain about what is next to come, he knows that creating a "fitness empire" or being a fitness guru/influencer is not in the cards for him.
“In five years? That’s a good question. I haven’t thought that far…again, this is such a passion, it’s not really a business for me,” reveals Lewis when talking about the future.
Teaching and choreographing is all that MarkyMark Dance is planning for the near future. While he is uncertain about what is next to come, he knows that creating a "fitness empire" or being a fitness guru/influencer is not in the cards for him.
While many before him have monetized their talent for dance, MarkyMark is focused on the creative side, which keeps his passion for dance alive. His love for dance is what drives him to keep creating and teaching year after year because he does it FOR THE LOVE OF DANCE.
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