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New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jazzercise is making a comeback with Gen Z and Millennials
Jazzercise: It is your mother's workout. At least that was the case for Madison Farfan, 25. Growing up in the San Diego area, where Jazzercise is headquartered, Farfan's mom occasionally Jazzercised while Farfan pursued competitive dance. To Farfan's mind, the two were out of sync. So when a coworker — who happened to be a Jazzercise instructor — pushed Farfan to join a class, she scoffed. Advertisement 'I had that preconceived notion: Jazzercise is not for people my age,' she told The Post. Rather, the stereotype goes, it's for grannies with unitards and leg warmers, hip replacements and Motown records. 11 If you haven't thought about Jazzercise since the '80s or '90s, it might look quite a bit different than you'd expect. Jazzercise, Inc. 11 The dancing workout tends to bring to mind leotards, leg warmers and big hair — but things have changed. master1305 – But after enduring a few months of the colleagues' insistence, Farfan, an HR professional for a construction company in San Marcos, caved. Her first class was led by Skyla Nelson — the impossibly shredded, infectiously peppy, Gen-Z granddaughter of Jazzercise founder Judi Sheppard Missett. Advertisement Wearing a monochrome set and slick bun, Nelson, 22, blasted the likes of Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter, leading the mixed-gen class through Jazzercise's proprietary heart-pumping choreography. 'Double lunge, right left! Right leg, ball change! Double jump, left side!' Nelson hollered between 'woos!' and swigs from her Jazzercise-branded Stanley. Farfan was 'blown away,' she said. 'Everything that I had in my mind about what type of workout it was, who takes the workout, who teaches the workout, the music that's used — totally out the window.' Advertisement Now, about a year and a half later, she said, 'I'm addicted. That's just the simplest way to put it.' 11 Women of all ages join workouts, like this one in Astoria — and there are plenty of millennials and Gen Z. Kim Max Aging gracefully Sheppard Missett, now 81 and a dancing advertisement for Jazzercise doing the body good, launched the company in 1969 after discovering why her adult dance students weren't coming back: The women — mostly moms in their 20s like her — weren't aspiring to be professional dancers like Sheppard Missett; they just wanted to look like one. 'That was kind of my aha moment,' Sheppard Missett said. She turned the ladies away from the mirror and exacting technique — and towards the good music and fun. 'And boy, it just went crazy.' Advertisement 'I've never once had to explain that Jazzercise is not what it was in the 80s to someone my age. We just know Jazzercise as our favorite fitness program — period.' Skyla Nelson Since then, Jazzercise has grown into a global phenomenon with 8,500 franchises across 25 countries that tap out fresh routines five times a year. There are classes that aim to build strength, and others that punch back at perimenopause. There's an on-demand platform for streaming at-home workouts, and new sleep programming and nutrition support add-ons. The company frequently revamps its line of apparel and posts its playlists to Spotify. 11 Jazzercise has 8,500 franchises across 25 countries. There are classes that aim to build strength, and others that punch back at perimenopause. They're even on TikTok. Jazzercise, Inc. 11 Madison Farfan, 25, (left) didn't think Jazzercise was for people her age — after all, her mom did it. Then she got hooked. Courtesy of Madison Farfan Jazzercise is even on TikTok. 'A lot of the time, I'll have older members or older instructors ask, 'How is it telling younger people that Jazzercise isn't leg warmers and leotards anymore?'' Nelson said. 'And my response is, 'I've never once had to explain that Jazzercise is not what it was in the '80s to someone my age. We just know Jazzercise as our favorite fitness program — period.'' Advertisement Not that Gen Z has step-kicked boomers to the curb. 'What's really amazing is that many of those early customers stayed with the program, even as new generations continued to join in,' said CEO and chief choreographer Shanna Missett Nelson, who's the founder's daughter and the instructor's mom. 11 'We've done a great job in being able to continue doing what we do, but improve it as we went along,' founder Sheppard Missett (not pictured) said. Kim Max 11 Sheppard Missett (not pictured), now 81, launched the company in 1969. Kim Max While Missett Nelson doesn't know the age breakdown of Jazzercisers nationwide, she said the ages of the flagship studio's instructors likely paint a representative picture: Nine, including her daughter, are in their 20s; 10 are in their 30s; 13 are in their 40s; seven are in their 50s; three are in their 60s. Advertisement One — her mom — is in her 80s. 'We've done a great job in being able to continue doing what we do, but improve it as we went along,' founder Sheppard Missett said. 11 'In the competitive dance world, you show up at a dance competition, you've got the dance instructors looking at you funky and it's … not very nurturing,' said Farfan (not pictured). 'Jazzercise is the complete opposite.' Jazzercise, Inc. No judgment, just fitness Michael Stack, an exercise physiologist in Michigan and president of the Physical Activity Alliance, has a few theories as to why Jazzercise's appeal is age-blind: It's social in a time when IRL connections — and especially intergenerational ones — are scarce. Advertisement It's judgment-free in an era where even a side part can earn you a side eye. And it's noncompetitive in a fitness culture where gym rats battle over the number of REM cycles in their sleep and supplements in their smoothies. 'Gen Z in particular may be less about those highly competitive metrics, and more about that sense of belonging and enjoyment and joy,' Stack said. 'Your metric of success at Jazzercise is: Did you breathe heavy? Did you sweat? And did you dance with your friends?' 11 Jazzercise founder Judi Sheppard Missett (right); her daughter, CEO and chief choreographer Shanna Missett Nelson (left); Shanna's daughter Skyla Nelson, who is an instructor. Paul Smith Photography 11 The women who join love the noncompetitive nature in today's intense fitness culture. Kim Max 11 Many also get a sense of community and are friends with their classmates. Kim Max Advertisement For Farfan, the answer is yes, yes and yes. It's a welcome change, she's found, from the high-pressure pipeline she pursued growing up. Maybe her mom was onto something after all. 'In the competitive dance world, you show up at a dance competition, you've got the dance instructors looking at you funky and it's … not very nurturing,' said Farfan, who attends live classes almost every day after work. 'Jazzercise is the complete opposite, so it's very refreshing.' Across the country at a recent Jazzercise class in Astoria, a millennial named Elizabeth Laberge shared a similar sentiment. She'd taken ballet for years as a kid but let the interest — and structured exercise as a whole — fade as life and motherhood took center stage. Then, about a year ago, Quinn McClure, the 38-year-old Astoria instructor and studio manager, invited her to class. The women's daughters were best friends, and Laberge obliged 'to be a friend' to McClure, too. She's been a regular ever since. 'What's the name of that song? I think it's by Pink,' Laberge asked the handful of other women — ages 35 to 60 — lingering after the Sunday morning class. Some had been to each others' baby showers, birthday parties and at least one bachelorette. Suddenly, unexpected tears welled in Laberge's eyes. 'I took so long of a break from dancing,' she said. 'I've been through a lot in my life, like a lot of trauma, and so coming here and just dancing, smiling, laughing is really …' Her classmate interjected. She remembered the name of the song: 'Never gonna not dance again.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Leo 'fell in love with Peru'and ceviche: Peru bishop
Pope Leo XIV fell in love with Peru and its signature dish of raw seafood, ceviche, over his nearly two decades in the country, his successor as bishop of the northern city of Chiclayo said Thursday. US-born pontiff Robert Prevost joined the Augustinian order in Peru in 1985 and obtained Peruvian nationality in 2015. "He loved goat, duck with rice and ceviche, those were his favorite dishes," Chiclayo's current bishop Edison Farfan told a press conference. He added that there were photographs in Chiclayo of him riding a horse. Farfan recalled Prevost's beginnings in Peru as a missionary in the northern town of Chulucanas, fresh out of university in the United States. From there he moved to the coastal city of Trujillo, where he helped set up an Augustinian seminary, before finally winding up in the far northern city of Chiclayo, where he was ordained a bishop in 2015, Farfan said. Leo gave "his whole life to the mission in Peru," Farfan said, adding that the new pontiff, like his Argentine predecessor Francis, was particularly driven by poverty and by people living on the "periphery" of society. In his first address as pontiff Leo broke into Spanish to pay tribute to his "dear diocese of Chiclayo" where Catholic faithful had given "so much" to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Prevost was seen as the least American of the US contenders to become the 267th leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, due to his long experience in Latin America. Across the continent, his election was hailed as another win, following the papacy of Francis, the first-ever Latin American pontiff. Left-wing Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he was "more than an American." Peruvian President Dina Boluarte called him a Peruvian "by choice and conviction." bur-das/lv/cb/dw
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused of 2018 felony rape charges caught in Spain, to be extradited to Utah
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A man accused of sexually assaulting a child multiple times in Salt Lake County in 2017 is now being extradited from Spain to face felony charges, according to county officials. Carlos Espino Farfan, 36, is returning to Utah after he was caught by immigration authorities in Spain, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office. District Attorney Sim Gill announced the planned extradition on Thursday, March 13, seven years after the charges were filed. READ NEXT: 19-year-old charged in murder of West Jordan victim In 2018, Utah authorities filed a warrant for Farfan's arrest after a 10-year-old victim reported the alleged sexual assault to police. Farfan was charged with four counts of rape of a child and one count of sodomy upon a child, all first-degree felonies. The warrant stated he was a flight risk as he had a Peruvian passport, and authorities believe he fled to Peru immediately after being accused before traveling to Spain. In January 2024, Farfan requested asylum from Spanish authorities and was taken into custody shortly after. Now, nearly exactly a year later, Spain granted Salt Lake County's extradition request and turned Farfan over to U.S. authorities. Farfan is being transported by the U.S. Department of Justice and is expected to arrive at a local jail within the day. 'Although justice was delayed for this young victim-survivor, it will not be denied,' Gill said. 'We appreciate the West Valley City Police Department for their diligent pursuit of the defendant over the last seven years. I am proud of the work our prosecutors did in coordination with local and federal authorities to ensure the defendant could be brought back to Utah to be held accountable for his alleged crimes.' Chief Colleen Jacobs of the West Valley City Police Department echoed Gill's statement, saying the detectives and officers' 'relentless pursuit of justice' shows their commitment to the victim. 'I am grateful to see this day come,' she said. 'Their hard work and tenacity reflect the highest standards of law enforcement and the deep respect they have for those they serve.' Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
08-02-2025
- Washington Post
Murder victim's relatives attack suspect in courtroom brawl
A court hearing plunged into chaos last week after a man accused of killing two women, including his ex-girlfriend, was attacked by one of the victim's relatives, sparking a courtroom-wide brawl that ended with an officer drawing his Taser. Carlos Lucero, 40, and Pete Ysasi, 51, can be seen in courtroom video punching Alexander Ortiz, 21, who was arrested last year after allegedly shooting and killing Alianna Farfan in her Albuquerque apartment, according to court records. Lucero is Farfan's uncle and Ysasi is Farfan's stepfather, according to NBC News.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Yahoo
Video shows New Mexico murder suspect getting attacked by victim's family in court
Courtroom video shows the moments a New Mexico murder suspect was attacked during a hearing by his alleged victim's uncle and stepfather on Friday. Alexander Ortiz, 21, was arrested by Albuquerque police last February in connection with the fatal shooting of his ex-girlfriend, Alianna Farfan, according to a news release. Ortiz was charged with first degree murder, a crime he pled not guilty to last March, court records show. Ortiz was in a courtroom at the Bernalillo County Courthouse in Albuquerque on Friday morning for a plea hearing when he was attacked. In the video, a man could be seen jumping over the courtroom boundary separating members of the public from suspects and beelining for Ortiz, who attempts to flee. Another man follows suit seconds later. A melee then breaks out with several people struggling and fighting as they roll around on the floor, including Lucero, Ysasi, Ortiz, a corrections officer, Ortiz' father, and a sixth unidentified man. Lucero and Ysasi could be seen punching an unidentified man wearing jeans and a dark long-sleeved shirt, while the corrections officer attempts to protect Ortiz. The fight finally ends when the corrections officer pulls out his Taser. Court documents filed by the State of New Mexico in Metropolitan Court last week identify the men as Carlos Lucero and Pete Ysasi. Deputies responded to the courtroom at around 9:30 a.m. following a dispatch report of an active fight. Lucero and Ysasi allegedly jumped over the courtroom gate, ran towards Ortiz and began punching him, court documents state. The men also allegedly injured the corrections officer protecting Ortiz. During his arrest, Lucero referred to the victim, Farfan, as his niece. "He killed my niece like a coward," Lucero allegedly told the deputy who detained him, adding "it was worth every moment." Ysasi was Farfan's stepfather. There were "visible lacerations" on Ortiz, Lucero and Ysasi following the incident, according to court documents. Lucero and Ysasi were taken into custody and charged with battery on a peace officer and assault on a jail. Lucero was released from the Metropolitan Detention center on Saturday, and Ysasi was released the day after, online records show. It is not clear at this time if they have attorneys representing them. Farfan was found dead by police in her apartment on Jan. 11, 2024, according to the Albuquerque Police Department. "Homicide detectives learned from friends and family that Farfan and Ortiz had an abusive relationship and Ortiz was upset with Farfan the day of the shooting," police said in a news release published last year. "Farfan lived at the apartment and allowed several friends to stay there because she feared being alone, according to a relative." Farfan's friends told detectives that they heard a single gunshot while Ortiz and Farfan were in her bedroom that evening. After kicking open the door, they discovered Farfan with a gunshot wound to the face and said Ortiz had escaped through the bedroom window. Ortiz was arrested on Feb. 21, 2024 following a brief stand-off with police. He's been in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center since then, according to online records. NBC News did not immediately hear back from an attorney for Ortiz. His next hearing is set for Friday morning. This article was originally published on
