Denise Stahlie Rivera has been a professional dancer since age 15. At age 10 she was accepted at the Scapino ballet in Amsterdam after an audition. She continued her dance training in jazz and ballet in Madrid, Spain in La Academia de Danza de Monteprincipe. At age 15 she participated with the group “Aerojazz” directed and choreographed by Alvin Ailey's New York dancer and sister Yvonne Stahlie. Denise discovered Zumba in 2008 and started teaching in 2009. She became a certified ZIN Member and Zumba Fitness Instructor in 2011 and in 2013.