D. Woods was born in Anaheim California, relocating to in Springfield Massachusetts, where she grew up. D. first developed her love for the arts while performing in dance and regional theater productions. As a teenager she relocated to Atlanta, GA where she attended the renowned Tri-Cities High School for Visual and Performing Arts.

There she studied modern contemporary dance, ballet, West African and Hip- Hop dance styles. While still in high school she performed with the Freddie Hendricks Youth Ensemble of Atlanta with whom she performed across the U.S and overseas including West and South Africa. Her education also included the prestigious Alvin Ailey School and New York University where she studied abroad in Havana, Cuba.