Poofy teased out hair. Neon green tights, yellow leg warmers and a highlighter pink unitard. 80s pop music plays in the background and a group full of women are dancing and sweating on a hardwood floor along with their instructor.

This was jazzercise 40 decades ago. Today, the widely practiced exercise combines dance, strength, resistance training and appeals to women and men of all ages.

Intrigued?

Ann Hebert has just the solution. Hebert, owner and instructor, officially cut the ribbon Friday on her new Jazzercise gym in Nederland.

Hebert said she offers an hour-long class that includes a warm up and cardio, and sets that are split between a dance-only option, strength or foot fusion, a combination of dance and strength.

“The biggest benefit for me is the stress release and energy it gives,” she said. “I’m not here to count your calories or watch every move you make. This is more of a relaxed environment. What I tell the ladies that come here is if you do it three or four times a week, you’re going to feel better about yourself.”

Hebert said Jazzercise is unique because of its enjoyable, upbeat tone.

“It’s fun,” she said. “For the music, I do the top 40. If you turn on the radio in your car you’re going to hear the music I play. I have ladies who tell me they hear a song and want to start dancing. It’s just fun. You remember it and people always want to come back after they try it.”

Hebert, who has been a certified instructor for five years practiced in Katy before moving to Mid-County.

“When I moved here there was no Jazzercise,” she said. “So, I had to open my own business. It was a passion I had and something I loved so I wanted to share it with others.”

Aside from offering jazzercise classes, the gym also offers Pilates and bar exercise classes. Leanne St. John is the instructor for both classes.

“I did Jazzercise in the 80s when they had it in the Groves rec center and I always loved it,” she said. “When I lived in Florida I also did it, but when I came here in the 90s, no one ever had it. I found out through a class reunion that (Ann) taught classes. I talked to her about it and when she moved back to the area I was thrilled she was going to teach it in Nederland.”

Hebert and St. John are certified in Pilates and bar, but St. John said she helps take the load off by teaching the classes herself.

“It keeps me honest,” she said. “It means I have to workout. People are depending on me to be there to instruct them, seeing the results and how happy people are is amazing. It becomes addictive, but I enjoy dancing. It’s fun and we are helping people, so that’s good.”

Jazzercise, Pilates and bar classes are open to men and women of all ages. The first class is free. A month-to-month membership is $68 for unlimited classes, three months is $155 and a year contract is $48 a month. Individual jazzercise classes are $15 and Pilates only is $30. Leg warmers and unitard optional.

For more information or to see the class schedule, visit jazzercise.com and type Nederland in the location bar or contact Ann Hebert at (409) 720-8867.

Jazzercise is located at 1512 Nederland Ave.