We accept you where you are: Entering the Holy of Holies

Reverend Nafisa Sharriff's free West African dance classes embody unconditional love in motion, right down to the heart-chakra centered meditations that close each class session. She welcomes everyone, from the most sculpted Alvin Ailey dancer to the shyest novice. For the past five years, she has evolved her work to an institutional level through the founding of her spiritual organization Entering the Holy of Holies (ETHOH). 

Though some words got lost in the cavernous echo of the Alhambra Ballroom where the ETHOH 5th anniversary gala was recently held, the spirit in the air was ebullient and radiating from every attendee and guest of honor. Rev. Sharriff acknowledged her mentor Yosef Ben-Jochannan, a renowned Egyptologist and author, with a ceremonial foot washing. Performance artist Nana Camille Yarborough then professed her love and camaraderie to several enclaves of the African Diaspora: "Trinidad, Cuba, Ghana, Detroit, Harlem, we are family!" The event came to a rousing finale with Forces of Nature, a dance troupe that lives up to their name.

Dancers from Forces of Nature

Dr. Ben and Rev. Nafisa Sharriff
image courtesy of ethoh.org

In ETHOH board member Athena Moore's speech, she stated "we accept you where you are." This is a timely message given the shifting tide of consciousness throughout the Western world. The rapid expansion of the spiritual and personal development industries are a testament to growing interest, as more people from a wider range of life circumstances and socio-economic statuses tap into their inner power, get in touch with their core values and embrace the wholeness of their being. Also, there is a massively growing audience for an African-centered approach to holistic spiritual growth. This same audience is being turned off by the conservatism and dogma of many traditional Black churches, and is culturally alienated from many predominantly white progressive spiritual communities.

Rev. Sharriff bridges that gap. Drawing on Kemetic teachings, she facilitates meditation circles, wellness retreats, lectures, rites of passage programs, and of course her popular dance classes. They are all designed to help all participants "[commune] with God at the deepest level possible by penetrating the inner sanctum, the most sacred aspect of the human heart." At the gala, she provided insight on the organization’s unorthodox name. "Why Entering?" It means to go within. Every life experience is an entering, an opportunity to encounter the light of consciousness within the self. And it is what we do throughout our lives: enter new phases, new experiences, new lessons learned, new heights of awareness, a perpetual rebirthing. 

The next ETHOH event is the annual Dancing into the Light! Here is the info from their website:

"Just around the corner is Dancing Into the Light!, our free traditional West African Dance class that celebrates all of the Holy-days and festivals of Light, on Wednesday, December 16th from 6-9pm at Countee Cullen Community Center (PS 194, 144th St./bt. 7th & 8th Aves.). Class is Free (donations are accepted) and open to the family!"

For more info:

West African dance classes in Harlem

Entering The Holy of Holies