Jazzercise Makes Move to Former School

A group of 41 Jazzercise participants gathered Monday for the program's inaugural meeting at its new location, the gymnasium of the former Gales Ferry School. The gym recently had been spruced up in anticipation of the Jazzercise class, with fresh paint and new lighting. 

"The guys with the Public Works Buildings and Grounds did a marvelous job," said Mayoral Assistant Mark Bancroft, who attended the start of the class Monday with Mayor John Rodolico and Town Councilor Linda Davis.

Rodolico helped facilitate the move to the former school from the Ledyard Senior Center, where Jazzercise instructor Lisa Mazzaro had been leading classes since March of 2010 under an agreement with the Parks and Recreation Department. 

Last year, however, the relationship between Jazzersize and senior center officials became strained. The Permanent Commission for Senior Citizens, which oversees the center, tried to cancel the program, but Mazzaro had her many supporters pushed back, enlisting the help of town officials.

Rodolico, when he took office, vowed a speedy resolution to the controversy, and helped achieve a "win-win" by making space available in the former school.

Bancroft said Jazzercise is only one of serveral uses the town is hoping the old school can support. He said another party has entered an agreement to use the space for dog training classes, and a third venture is in the works.

The 41 Jazzercise students – the most ever to attend one of Mazzaro's classes – expressed their thanks and gratitude to Rodolico, Bancroft and Davis at the start of the class.