All About RFYDAA

The organization founder and president, Rayzelle Forrest Young, is a 40-year dance veteran and is a Pittsburg native, born in Pittsburg, CA.  She started her dance career at the age of ten and has coached and instructed thousands of youths to win hundreds of cheer and dance titles and championships. Coaching her first championship team at the age of just fourteen, Rayzelle began to make a name for herself as one of the best coaches/instructors in California's East Bay Area.  Growing up in East Contra Costa County in a single-parent family home, she knew all too well the need for physical and recreational outlets and how they can positively impact the at-risk youths. Knowing this is what fueled her drive to continue to make a difference as an adult and she eventually gave birth to Metropolis Dance, the dance segment of RFY Dance and Academic Academy.  Over the years Metropolis has won a host of awards and recognition for the outstanding impact it has had in the community.  These include include the Chris Danta Colbert foundation Award, the 9 Quota award for best dance studio as well as special recognition from the Jack and Jill Foundation and Branches of Community Service.

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The Academic Academy (RFY Academics)

RFY Academics was birthed out of Rayzelle Forrest Young's love for education and reading in particular.  Being a retired educator she didn't hesitate to implement a tutoring and reading program before dance classes when parents began keeping dancers from class because of unfinished homework. The before class homework/reading program has evolved into a successful literacy program that positively impacts hundreds of students each year.  RFY Academics has taken on a life of its own by way of energetic literacy camps called IT'S LIT, held throughout the school year and summer.  IT'S LIT is an electrifying fusion of lights, rap, and reading designed to ignite a passion for literacy in a whole new way.