Our Story
RRDF was created with the intention of helping more women to see the value in movement, connecting to their bodies, and taking time for self-care. We believe that life is supposed to be fun and filled with hobbies that promote overall wellness, self-discovery, and confidence building. Our company has evolved so much over the years, but our mission has remained the same. Do more of what makes you happy, period.
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Real Rhythm Dance and Fitness aims to motivate, educate, and inspire others to be the best and most authentic version of themselves, while building a healthier & more balanced lifestyle. Our motto is #RealVibesOnly because we want everyone to feel accepted, welcome, and lit up in our community by simply being who they're meant to be.
Meet the Founder
"If you don't enjoy what you do everyday, the money will never be worth it."
Marissa Tonge , CEO & Founder of Real Rhythm Dance and Fitness & creator of Real Riddim Dance Workout™ is a strong believer in following your passion and living with a purpose. Even though she has evolved into an educational dance professional, her passion began with a love for fitness.
At just 3 years old, Marissa began exercising with her mother, Linda, in their New Jersey basement, which had been transformed into a home gym. Linda was an avid fan of the classic workout series THE FIRM and often spoke highly of it. This is where Marissa first learned proper form, technique, and effective exercises—skills she continues to use to this day.
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While growing up, Marissa's love for dance began to grow as she took part in numerous school showcases and musicals. During her high school career, she was recognized in two Playbills as the contributing choreographer for the school's productions of GREASE and High School Musical. In addition to being a professional dancer and choreographer, Marissa is a NASM certified personal trainer, and has previously been certified in VXN Workout®, PiYo® LIVE and Zumba Fitness®.
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Marissa is now focused on coaching women to build confidence to improve their public presence, careers and performance. She also spends her time planning & hosting intentional retreats, running a bi-coastal business, and expanding #RealVibesOnly to SoCal and the west coast.
Meet The Team
Eboni Cave
Eboni began dancing in the Bergen County NJ area at the age of three and continued training through high school. She attended Florida A&M University, where she further pursued her passion for dance as a member of the Elite Dance Team. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Health Science and returning home to New Jersey, Eboni continued her dance journey by taking various classes and performing with local dance organizations.
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She first joined RRDF in 2017 as a client, taking VXN Workout, and never looked back. In 2020, she became a certified VXN Workout instructor, and by 2022, she joined the RRDF executive team.
Today, Eboni teaches Heels, VXN Workout, and is a Real Riddim Dance Workout Master Instructor.
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With a deep passion for movement and community, Eboni is proud to share her gifts, knowledge, and expertise with others through the Real Vibe Tribe community.
Heather Fuduli
Heather is a multi-passionate creative whose journey with dance began before she could form full sentences. Dancing since the age of two, what began as simple movement quickly evolved into a form of medicine—carrying her through challenges, helping her find her power, and shaping the woman she is today.
To Heather, dance is more than choreography—it’s an embodiment.
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She teaches Heels and Contemporary with a unique balance of compassion and constructive fire, believing that growth comes from both safety and challenge. As a Vitality Coach, Heather blends her background in nursing and wellness to help dancers care for the bodies that carry their art. Her approach emphasizes both performance and recovery, ensuring artists can move and restore in equal measure.
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Having personally experienced burnout and learned the power of small, intentional changes, Heather now helps others reclaim their sensuality, strength, and stamina—on and off the dance floor.
Stacey Jean Francois
Stacey loves to move to everything from Afrobeats to Salsa. She's currently a Real Riddim Dance Workout Master Instructor, creating a space where students can express themselves through movement while building mental strength and confidence.
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Stacey's dance journey reached a pivotal point in 2020 when she joined RRDF as a student and discovered her desire to teach others. This realization led her to pursue her dream of becoming a Certified Instructor for Real Riddim Dance Workout, and was officially recognized in March 2025.
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Drawn to music and movement since childhood, she briefly explored ballet and hip hop but didn’t fully unleash her energy or passion until later in life. Dance allowed her to ground herself, overcome anxiety, and connect deeply with others who share her love for music.
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In her classes, she encourages participants to shed the fear of perception, embrace their bodies, and experience the liberating joy of movement.
Starr Ivery
Starr is a proud New Jersey native, wife, and Christian with a deep love for movement, culture, and community. By day, she serves as a middle school instructional coach, empowering teachers and positively impacting student learning. This role allows her to make a meaningful difference in the lives of both educators and middle schoolers.
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Outside of her career in education, Starr channels her passion for movement through teaching Rhythm & Vibes at RRDF. She became a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor in 2018 and, in March 2025, earned the honor of becoming a Certified Master Trainer for Real Riddim Dance Workout.
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Her journey with dance fitness has transformed her perspective, helping her see her body as a gift from God—something to care for, celebrate, and move with joy. Deeply grateful to be part of a community that embraces culture, music, and holistic wellness, Starr believes movement is a powerful tool to connect, uplift, and bring people together.
Dahiana Payano
Dahiana has always loved to dance for as long as she can remember but it wasn’t until the age of 8 years old that she took her first dance class. She trained in ballet, tap, and jazz for many years as her passion for the art continued to flourish.
Straight out of high school she went on to Montclair State University as a dance major, where she began to explore more modern dance styles, and she also began her career as a dance instructor teaching at local dance studios. When she wasn’t teaching, Dahiana was performing and choreographing for special events, upcoming artists, and global artists including DJ Lobo, Romeo Santos and El Alfa.
Her goal is to continue to grow as dancer while helping others achieve the same thing, whether they want to do it as a way to stay active, as just a fun hobby or as a professional career.
Dennisse Mendoza
Dennisse, a proud native of Ecuador, a loving mom, and a vibrant force of energy who believes in embracing your passions no matter when or how they arrive. Though she has always carried the rhythm and warmth of her Latin roots, she never pursued professional dance training growing up — yet her love for music and movement was always there, waiting for the right moment to shine.
In 2021 she took her very first VXN Workout® class, and what started as a fitness class quickly became a life-changing journey that she’s been on ever since.​ Dennisse became part of the RRDF team in 2024 as a Vibe Curator. In March 2025, she earned her certification as a Real Riddim Dance Workout™ Master Instructor. Just a few months later, in June 2025, she achieved her VXN Workout® certification, officially bringing her journey full circle.​
With her Latin flair, contagious smile, and unstoppable drive, Dennisse brings heart, rhythm, and connection to every class she leads.
