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Jacki has a broad background in dance, including tap, ballet, modern, acrobatic, Hawaiian, and jazz experience. While working on her Bachelor's degree, Jacki discovered that she had a particular talent for teaching non-dancers. She later applied this ability to Officer's Wives Club classes and teaching all forms of dancing to dependents on various Air Force bases. In 1969, Jacki was asked to develop a fitness television program for Air Force wives at a base in Puerto Rico where her husband Neil was stationed. Based on her own fitness, she invented the concept of combining dance with aerobic exercise for the program. She choreographed a set of vigorous dances to lively music, and Aerobic Dancing was born! When the Sorensens moved to New Jersey, Jacki introduced the first Aerobic Dancing class at a local YMCA. Within three months, one class of 6 grew to two classes of 25 students each. The program rapidly expanded to other YMCAs, Bloomfield College, and Seton Hall University. Later, Jacki developed two other aerobic programs in addition to Aerobic Dancing--Workout, which is more subtly choreographed, and StrongStep™, which uses a step to increase lower-body resistance. Today, Jacki's programs are offered throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, and in Japan, Australia, Vietnam, and Russia. As a fitness professional for over 30 years, Jacki has played an active role in helping others become physically fit. She is an active member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports after serving as a clinician for six years. Presently, she is a member of the Advisory Board of the Women's Sports Foundation. Jacki has lectured extensively on health and fitness to groups throughout the world. In 1985, Jacki was awarded the first Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Dance Exercise Association and was inducted into the Club Industry magazine's Hall of Fame a year later. She has been recognized by the American Heart Association, Special Olympics, and United Cerebral Palsy for her contributions to the groups. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Jacki has performed post-graduate work in exercise physiology at California State University in Sacramento and Seton Hall University in New Jersey. She also has been an elementary school teacher. Jacki is the author of two best-selling books, Aerobic Dancing and Jacki Sorensen's Aerobic Lifestyle Book. Several Aerobic Dancing records and three best-selling aerobic videos are included in Jacki's home programs. Awards
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Jacki Sorensen is
the originator of Aerobic Dancing--the complete fitness program that combines the health
and toning benefits of jogging with the fun of dancing. In addition to
choreographing over 150 routines a year for her programs, Jacki is the President and
founder of Jacki's, Inc., headquartered in DeLand, Florida.
