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London · 519-657-7031

Meet Our Team

INSTRUCTOR

Gaby Copeland
Instructor
Gaby Copeland - Jazzercise instructor - London ON

I have been teaching Jazzercise for… 30 years. Time flies when you’re having a great time!

I became a Jazzercise instructor because…Love to dance. I am a big believer FIT=HEALTH

I worked as a Geologist before having my Down Syndrome son, Sean. Thanks to Sean I have devoted my life to health and fitness through Jazzercise.

What I like the most about Jazzercise is … watching new students realize that exercise can be FUN. I also love teaching my 3 disability classes. They are so free to sing, laugh and try their best.

Something most of you don’t know about me … I used to build hiking trails in the Rocky Mountains. Hence my favourite thing to do outside of teaching Jazzercise is walking my dog in the woods. I find it very calming.

My motto at Jazzercise is … “suck it up”

ASSOCIATE INSTRUCTORS

Rita Davis
Instructor
Rita Davis - Jazzercise instructor - London ON

I have been teaching Jazzercise for … 15 years. Best decision ever!

I became a Jazzercise instructor because … I wanted to take my fitness to the next level and I love to dance. Something you may not know about me is … I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2007 - for Make-A-Wish Foundation and in honour of my late husband Hugh. Oh, and I also wrote a memoir about it called Long Climb Back. In my future life I will … publish another book. My favourite summer treat is … ice cream in a waffle cone.

Right now my favourite artist is … Ed Sheeran. I cannot get enough of him. Someone invite him to class! Make him do Shape of You with us! The thing I love most about my workout is … the sweat factor, the feeling of victory in the body right after and connecting with my Jazzercise community. When I am not working out … I love to read, write and draw.

Joanne Gibbon
Instructor

I have been teaching Jazzercise for almost 25 years and love it just as much as that first class... well actually more! I became an instructor not only to keep fit and the fact I LOVE to dance but I was up for a challenge(as I am a very shy person....without a mic). Becoming an instructor was going to put me way out of my comfort zone! I was up for the challenge and here I am 25 years stronger! The one thing I love about Jazzercise and being an instructor is the ability to make people forget their worries and laugh while getting a good sweat. Nothing beats the feeling after your workout....Great! Your only one workout away from a good mood. When I'm not working out I love to cook and work on little projects....Pinterest 4ever!

My most embarrassing moment is when my shorts ripped right down the front seam when I was on stage. Don't wear white underwear!

A motto I live by...."You can't buy happiness. But you can buy cupcakes and that's kind of the same thing."

Penny Izatt-Ogunyemi
Instructor
Penny Izatt-Ogunyemi  - Jazzercise instructor - London ON

I have been an Instructor for 20 years, certified July 1997. I was a competitive highland dancer for 20 years in my younger days, with tap, ballet and jazz thrown into the mix.

After marriage I concentrated on raising my family and my career in the investment industry. But there came a time when my family was grown and somewhat self-sufficient, that I knew I needed to do something for me. Along came Jazzercise, a fun and "dancy" program that I could do on my time schedule. I loved the music, the moves and, most of all, the people. Nobody was judgmental and you were greeted like family.

Since I love being on stage and performing, I made the decision to transition from customer to Instructor, and the rest is history.

As long as I'm capable of talking (never seems to be a problem) and dancing, I will be up there guiding customers through their class and having some chuckles, sometimes at my own expense. I also act as their TV guide. My favourite routines are anything with Pitbull, Bruno, JLo and Gwen.

My favourite pastime is hanging out with my beautiful granbaby, Angęli. I spend as much time with her as possible. I have 4 dogs (3 of them rescues) that love me twice a day, breakfast and supper.

Lori Mathews
Instructor
Lori Mathews - Jazzercise instructor - London ON

Instructor Lori grew up in the northern community of Timmins, Ontario. She moved to London in 2000 to attend university and loved it so much she stayed. She currently works at Western Medical coordinating installations of diagnostic imagine machines in hospitals across the country. She loves her job but she also loves Jazzercise! She became a student 7 years ago. 5 years ago she took the leap and became an instructor. Lori loves everything about Jazzercise, the friends, the classes, the community, the workouts, the fun and the laughs. In her spare time Lori and her fiancé Brian are also planning their exciting Las Vegas wedding, Elvis here they come! Jazzercise is a key component to being wedding dress ready.

Anya Prohaszka
Instructor
Anya Prohaszka - Jazzercise instructor - London ON

Anya has been a Jazzercise instructor for the last 6 years, but has been Jazzercising for at least the last 15 years. She loves music from her Canadian boys - Justin Bieber, Drake, and Shawn Mendes - and her boy from Belgium - Stromae. Anya has three daughters, aged 10, 8, and 5. When she is not taking care of her own kids, she's taking care of the neighbourhood kids before and after school - or just whenever! She runs a Dance Crew of 30-plus kids in her small town's elementary school, and finds watching kids interacting with each other to be one of the most interesting things ever. When Anya grows up, she wants to be a creative writer and have a novel published and for sale in book stores. She was a finalist for the John Kenneth Galbraith Literary Award and is working on writing her first novel.