Advertisement Before there was SoulCycle or Zumba or Pure Barre, there was Jazzercise. But if you’re picturing a bunch of moms in leotards and leg warmers, you obviously haven’t taken a class in the last few decades. A pioneer of the fitness industry and widely acknowledged as “the original dance party workout,” Jazzercise is still going strong – and, more importantly, making women (and men!) strong – more than half a century later. Today, Jazzercise blends jazz dance, Pilates, cardio kickboxing, resistance training and yoga in fast-paced routines designed to improve cardiovascular endurance and increase strength and flexibility. What hasn’t changed in all these years, though, is its effectiveness – a 50-minute class can burn a whopping 800 calories – and the brand’s determination to make it fun.