Jazzercise history

1974: Missett introduces Jazzercise name.

By 1977, Missett was teaching 20 classes a week, with a total of almost a thousand students.

After Jazzercise, Inc. incorporated in 1979, Missett began promoting the company's fitness routines across the country.

In 1983, Jazzercise, Inc. formalized its franchise relationship with its certified instructors.

Jazzercise instructors performed in the opening ceremony for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and Missett herself ran in the relay to bring the Olympic torch to the city.

In 1988, the company reduced the royalty rate it charged franchisees to 20 percent.

In 1989, Jazzercise became more widely available in Japan when that country's largest operator of health clubs agreed to offer all its members Jazzercise classes.

She continued to teach almost every day in California, and to choreograph new Jazzercise routines. It allied with General Mills in 1996, naming that company's Total cereal as the Jazzercise official cereal, and giving away Jazzercise class coupons on the back of nine million Total boxes.

The company allied with another athletic footwear manufacturer, Ryka, Inc., in 1997, and formed other publicity links the next year with Smuckers brand jam and cereal-maker Quaker Oats.