Anissa Ruiz, B.S. Music Education K-12 from University of South Florida, has been teaching music since 2001. Her love of music began in Miami, FL, attending South Miami Elementary Junior High Magnet for the Performing Arts. Being involved in Drama and Music, she took her love of both into G. Holmes Braddock High School in Miami, FL. Upon graduating, she attended USF's School of Music and was in the USF Wind Ensemble and was Principal Clarinetist for the USF Symphony Band for two years in a row.
Anissa has taught in elementary schools and even taught High School Chorus at William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The Dwyer Show Choir and Mixed Womens Chorus, under her direction, performed in Harlem, New York in the Heritage Music Festival coming away with a Gold in Excellence!

*completed 11/05 Zumba® Workshop w/BETO—creator of Zumba®
*completed 05/06 Zumba® Advanced Workshop w/BETO—creator of Zumba®
*completed 02/07 Zumba® Workshop w/BETO—creator of Zumba®
*attended the first ever Zumba® Instructor Convention 10/08
*completed 10/08 Zumba® Toning Workshop
*completed 10/08 Zumba® B2 Workshop
*attended the 2nd Annual Zumba® Convention 09/09
*completed 9/09 Aqua Zumba® Workshop
*complete 9/09 Zumbatomic® Workshop (Zumba Kids)
*CPR/AED Certified
*AFAA Group Fitness Certified
Personal Achievements
*WINNER of the First Ever Zumba® Choreography Contest 2007
*taught a Zumba® Master Class at Studio Zumba Palm Bay, 2007
*taught a Triple Threat Master Class (Zumba®)— Tampa, FL 2009

Jeni J was born and raised in Tampa, FL and dreamed of being be a dancer as far back as she can remember. She was a member of the performing arts company at Mary Jo's Dance Studio and a Dancerette for Hillsborough High School (both of Tampa). Due to unforeseen circumstances, Jeni was forced to leave Tampa and therefore walked away from all of her dreams. She spent some time pursuing other things; like a career in the United States Navy and starting a family. Unfortunately, the marriage became abusive and after having 2 children, Jeni had gained so much weight that she was approximately 234 lbs and was very unhappy.

In 2004, she discovered ZUMBA and immediately began to teach classes without even losing any weight first. But, this helped her to connect with her students and that overpowered any insecurities she felt about her obesity. She immediately began to lose weight to a reach a total of 70lbs in less than 6 months. This success brought her a new found strength and she left the abusive husband in 2005 and moved back to Tampa with her 2 children. Shortly thereafter in early 2006, she began to teach classes again that immediately became so popular that in less than a year she ventured out on her own and quit her full time government job. Less than six months after that, she founded the very first studio in Tampa dedicated to the Zumba Fitness program.

She has changed many lives and inspired thousands to take control of their health and create happiness in their own lives. Many of which have become instructors and studio owners themselves. She is a prime example that dreams can come true if you make them: she was an abused, overweight, divorced, single-mother of two, with no assets and extremely in debt and now she is the owner of FlavaFitness Studio, a rapidly growing and successful dance/fitness studio (founded in 2007) with original formats and concepts all geared toward the success of achieving any goal or pursuing any dream!