Safiya Vanterpool was born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and grew up between St. Croix and Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). She began her dance training at the Music in Motion School of Higher Dance Education in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, later dancing at the BVI Dance School and with the CADA Players, a community-based company in Tortola, Virgin Islands. She graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in psychology and a B.A. in dance. She also holds an Associate of Science in human services.