Team Sorensen Bios

Jacki 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 Williamsburg, VA.

Jacki has a broad background in dance, including tap, ballet, modern, acrobatic, Hawaiian, and jazz. 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 StrongStep, which uses a step to increase lower-body resistance. Today, Jacki’s programs are offered throughout the United States, Japan and Australia.

For six years she served as a clinician for The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. As a fitness professional for over 50 years, Jacki has played an active role in helping others become physically fit and 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 (IDEA) 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 these 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. She has also choreographed and produced several Aerobic Dancing records and three best-selling aerobic videos.

Awards

• Lifetime Achievement Award – International Dance Exercise Association (IDEA)
• Diamond Pin Award – American Heart Association
• Club Industry Hall of Fame
• Legends of Aerobics – City Sports Magazine
• Individual Contribution Award – Association for Fitness in Business
• Special Olympics Contribution Award
• Contribution Award for Women’s Fitness – President’s Council on Physical Fitness
• Healthy American Fitness Leader – U.S. Jaycees
• New Horizons Award – Caldwell College
• California Women’s Leadership Award – President’s Council on Physical Fitness
• National Fitness Hall of Fame

Janci began dancing at the age of 5. She took all types of dance for 10 years, excelling in tap, modern, jazz and tumbling. Ever the avid athlete, Janci competed in gymnastics through high school until a knee injury prevented her from continuing.

She took her first Jacki Sorensen’s Aerobic Dance Class with her mom when she was in high school. She attended Pacific Union College in Napa Valley, California and then transferred to Loma Linda University. During this time she lived with her sister, Rochelle, and became a certified Aerobic Dancing Instructor at the age of 18. She helped expand Aerobic Dancing in San Bernardino County.

After graduating from Loma Linda University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree she immediately went to work for Aerobic Dancing Headquarters in Northridge, California. She worked with Rochelle in the Research & Development Department and Jacki loved the fact that sisters could be so different, yet excel working side by side 24-7. They eventually became Jacki’s “right hand girls” traveling together throughout the country and to Japan, promoting Jacki’s Programs and training Instructors.

Several years ago Rochelle finished her teaching credential and decided to pursue her dream and became a full time teacher. Janci wished her well and feels very lucky and blessed to still be working with and learning from Jacki. She teaches Dance and StrongStep and plans to continue teaching for years to come. Janci is happy that Jacki values and trusts her in her role as assistant choreographer and in the development of all cues. She is inspired by and thankful for all of the Instructors and students who continue to support Jacki’s Inc. and is looking forward to exciting changes and growth!

Chris has taught almost every session of Jacki Sorensen’s Aerobic Dancing since 1983 and StrongStep since its inception, as well as Workout for many years. She became a support person in the Michigan district office and in 1986 was one of 13 District Managers for Aerobic Dancing Inc. In 1990 she purchased a Jacki’s franchise and also became the Corporate Liaison for the franchisees, talking with each about all facets of running their business and additionally speaking with potential franchise owners. She has also assisted franchise owners interested in hiring affiliates.

She developed all of the marketing and business tools for sale to Jacki’s Franchise owners and coordinates the training of all new Instructors. In addition Chris created the Instructor Only area on the website for furthering communications with Franchise owners, and also the website itself, for potential instructors and students alike. Chris’ main goals were automating systems and her biggest challenge to date was having instructors download materials. She feels that teaching classes though, is the “best part of everyday.”

Her organizational skills, business knowledge from past jobs, and background with Jacki’s, suit her well for her role with the company which has been in existence since 2010.

John was born in Washington, DC and raised in Rockville, Maryland. He attended the University of Miami where he earned his Bachelors degree in Music and Marketing and an Associate degree in Architecture.

John immediately put his recording and engineering expertise to work in the 70’s at Criteria Recording Studios of Miami, Florida. Some of his clients included The Bee Gees, The Eagles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Andy Gibb, Firefall, Joe Williams and others. While he was there, the Criteria team received two engineering Grammys for musical productions.

In the early 80’s, John moved to Orlando and opened up John Blanche Recording Studios, a state of the art recording facility. Jacki Sorensen has worked exclusively with John, producing all of her videos, DVD’s and CD’s for over 30 years. In addition to Jacki, John’s clients include Ripley’s, Disney, Universal Studios Florida, Spoken Word of God and a plethora of local Florida acts.

With over 40 years recording and engineering experience, John offers quality recording and a great ear for mastering the finished product.