Jacki Sorensen

Jacki Sorensen (born Jacqueline Faye Mills; December 10, 1942) is the American originator of aerobic dancing, popularly known as aerobics. Inspired by Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper's 1968 book on aerobic exercise, she created for women an aerobic dance routine to music in 1969 in Puerto Rico, teaching U.S. Air Force wives. She expanded this concept into a teaching method and studio franchise, Aerobic Dancing Inc., that rose to 1,500 locations and 4,000 instructors teaching 170,000 students in 1981 at its peak.

The Lotto shoe company came out with the "Jacki" signature aerobics shoe in 1982. Eight years later, after experiencing declining profits because of competition, Sorensen changed her business name to Jacki's, Inc., and soon integrated the new step aerobics style. Jacki's continues today with instructors and studios in the U.S., Australia and Japan.

Called the "mother of aerobic dancing", Sorensen served on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for six years in the 1970s, and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by that body in 2012. In 2020, she was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame.