By Clyde Noel

Before Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons were in the news for their exercise programs, a fitness program was developed using the fun in dancing. It was called Aerobic Dancing and was developed by Jacki Sorensen in the early 1970s.

Sorensen choreographed a set of vigorous dances to music and helped create an exercise revolution called Aerobic Dancing. The exercise program is franchised. Joan Rabin, a longtime Los Altos resident, celebrated teaching the program 25 years last Monday night at the Mountain View Masonic Temple.

Aerobic Dancing combines the health and figure benefits of jogging with the fun and vigor of dancing. It’s a series of easy-to-learn dances for non-dancers, a carefully choreographed blend of jogging, lunges, arm swings and leg kicks, set to music from contemporary to country.

Rabin said the music brings a lot of joy to class members. It helps them forget everything else going on in their lives for one hour. Some of the women have been in the class many years, while others come and go.

Nancy Napoli, a Los Altos resident, said, “It’s a great escape, and you make wonderful friends in the class. I’ve been coming here for 24 years.”

“You work for a couple of hours before you come to class, and it’s a great lifter-upper,” said Bella Berlly of Los Altos. “It’s better than three cups of coffee.”

Rabin said that one never feels like one is exercising. “It’s always the music and the dancing. It’s never an exercise club,” she said.

Dorianne Langhi of Mountain View said, “Joan convinced me to come because I was sitting at home all the time. For the last five years I’ve been here.”

Rabin started teaching aerobics in Mountain View in the fall of 1978, at the SFV Lodge on Villa Street. Twenty years ago she moved to the Masonic Temple, where she has been teaching Aerobic Dancing ever since.

“Every time I get a new set of routines I can’t wait to see what the new steps and the new music will be,” Rabin said. “Sometimes I’m too tired to go to class, but afterward I’m energized and ready to meet the day. My job is such a pleasure.”

Rabin keeps the class happy with other activities. Once a year Chef Chu’s makes a special menu for the class, and they go there after the class en masse.

Every year there is a dress-up contest with prizes, and Rabin offers child care for class members at no cost.

The oldest class member is Lorraine Gross, who is 84. She has been in Rabin’s class 24 years. “They call me the dancing grandma because I love to dance and be with Joan,” she said. Class members say Aerobic Dancing is important for them. It gives them a psychological lift, and they look forward to it. Last Monday more than 70 former and present class members attended Rabin’s 25th celebration for that psychological lift.