Join Shemora Sheikh of Zen Shimmies as she guides you through the mystical side of bellydance! Learn beautiful, elegant movements all while exercising the abdominals and getting a cardio workout. We will explore the chakras, mindfulness, breathing, and the emotional/creative connection with our womb center. The class format includes call and response, affirmations & guided meditation. A journal to write reflections can be useful.

This class is FREE at Communities in Partnership, 103 S. Driver St, Durham, NC. Every Wednesday at 6:30pm

Complete Waiver HERE before class.

"Hennaglyphics: How to Henna" was released Spring of 2022 and what better way to celebrate than glam, tea, nosh, & HENNA!!! These are a few of my fav o rite things! Alhumdil'Allah, I'm so relieved and overflowing with gratitude for my family and community who helped me through the process of balancing self, family, and business.

What I love about "Hennaglyphics: How to Henna" is that it pays homage to the African roots of henna, which you don't hear about often. Writing this book was a journey through my ancestors time, my own childhood, and into the future to my children's. When I set out to write it I had no idea it was going to be 500 pages. It became it's own animal--much like applying henna designs-it just keeps expanding and you add a leave and a vine and you can't stop as the design builds before your eyes and before you know it, the entire arm or leg is covered-maybe more!!

The Henna Tea Party was fabulous and I look forward to doing more!! Catch you at the next one!

Peruse our other Henna Vlogs:
Hennaglyphics at NCMA
Hennaglyphics Does D.C.
Hennaglyphics at the Goldenbelt Gallery

Once a year, under the moon, we gather: women, wise women, sacred women, women healers, lightworkers, creatresses, poets, dancers, artists, singers, and musicians as one sisterhood under a canopy of stars. 

The purpose is for women who are pillars in their families/communities, women who put out so much, to come to a safe space where they can relax, reconnect, release, renew, and raise their vibration. The light of our hearts connect us!

Our soothing lineup includes dancing, singing, open mic, yoga, a healing sound bath, a guided discussion, all in the cloak of night and the embrace of mother nature.

We have been doing this event for 6 years and it has grown so much. It takes a village and ubuntu. My warmest gratitude to Sister Jean Bey, the Shimmy Sisters of Pink Moon Bellydance, Bianqa Bizune of Yoga Monarch, Shavon Marie of Unity Music Academy, Moor Journeyz & The Imani Nia School of Fine Arts & Trades, The Coconut Kitchen Jamaican Food Truck, and all of those who share their gifts & talents. Ubuntu.

See the post on last years Dancing Fire Circle HERE.

The Dancing Fire Circle takes place every Fall, but we have other Moon Ceremonies in the Spring (May 2023) and Summer. If you want to attend you must RSVP and gain clearance HERE. If you want to lead an activity,  perform, or have a food truck please contact us at [email protected] or 1-877-570-3108. 

Come dance with us! sign up for Pink Moon Bellydance classes HERE.

The "Hennaglyphics: How to Henna," author event at Lost City Books in Washington, DC was fabulous! I know, I know. You might be like, "What? You wrote a book?" Yessss!!! "Hennaglyphics: How to Henna," just released Spring 2022. I didn't get to blog about this 5 year process. So it may feel like a total time bleep, but that's what happens when you are balancing mothering, wifing, homeschooling, cooking, housekeeping, and a wellness business. But, hey, no worries, I'm going to catch you up and if you need a faster update, you can always check my social media: hennaglyphics on IG & FB.

One of our major author events of the Summer was Body Art & Books at Lost City Books. Empress (Kidist James), my sistarfriend, joined me on the panel for the discussion of "Hennaglyphics." She is a Podcaster, YouTuber, Jewelry Designer and Co-Owner of the Vintage Clothing Store and Cafe Shop WnWnn(Waste Not Want Not) in The Gambia. Presently she is documenting her repatriation, building projects and homesteader journey to The Gambia on her YouTube Channel "Global Green Book". She is also the creator of TIEbyKidist, a lifestyle brand focusing on "Bridging Two Worlds Together, The Diaspora & African." Moreover, she has been with me on this henna journey for years as a client and she has read the book. So it was great to have her input on this new release. Connect with her on youtube, ig, or fb. 

DC gave us a warm welcome and we enjoyed it to the fullest. Some of the places we visited was Swahili Village, Bus Boys & Poets, and Sankofa Book Store. "Hennaglyphics: How to Henna," is now in stock & available on the Rites of Passage Institute website and Lost City Books!

Check out the videos below for the recap where we discuss the parts of the book "Hennaglyphics."

We traveled all around the world with the Mute the (dominant) Mic event with the Global Fashioning Assembly at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA). This event was in person and virtual. Societies are just now learning to value crafts/art, such as Henna Body Art, created by and dominated by women especially melanated/indigenous women. Discussing the journey of Henna Body Art in a museum felt like putting something in it's rightful place and giving it the proper respect. Henna has been a language and a voice for women for over 6,000 years and it's time that it be heard. A huge thanks to NCMA especially Dr. Amanda Maples for providing such a platform. Learn more about the journey of Henna Body Art in our new book release "Hennaglyphics: How to Henna." 

We are thrilled to announce that the Henna Hands photography series is now at the Golden Belt Arts Campus in Building 2 next to YaYa Tea (807 E Main St Ste 2-150, Durham, NC 27701) in Downtown Durham. Please come out and show your support. And if you order me an oolong boba tea (almond milk, tapioca pearls) and crab rice ball I will magically appear! Lol! 

The exhibit goes until the end of December 2022. Every Third Friday is the Downtown Durham Art Walk and the Goldenbelt Campus is always alive with activities, artists, restaurants, galleries, and all the best of downtown Durham. I, Shemora Sheikh, will be in the house for Third Friday November 18 at 5pm for Open Reception. Meet me there to discuss the Henna Hands photography series and my recent art textbook "Hennaglyphics."

While you are here you might as well embark upon the Henna Hands Photography Series Henna Scavenger Hunt.  

Every year we pick a theme for the Pink Moon Bellydance Brunch & the Dancing Fire Circle Guided Discussion. This year the theme is Building Sisterhood. If there is a common thread that ties together all of what Rites of Passage Institute does, that is sisterhood. We are blessed with the bonds of sisterhood--Tribe! Tribe! However, to keep those bonds healthy and growing, we have to be intentional. We have to be intentional on an individual level, but also on a group level. Sisterhood takes constant nurturing and building, especially in this society.

Our experiences and stories are so deep and layered that two annual events really can't contain all that it takes to analyze and improve our relationships. Therefore, we didn't want the discussion to stop at these events. We want the discussion to continue beyond the Dancing Fire Circle & Bellydance Brunch and to invite others into it. This is the space for that! Below are the Keys to Sisterhood that are being discussed (it is a working list). These keys are based on African Womanism & Spirituality. Feel free to drop your comments, suggestions, questions, stories and more below. Rites of Passage Institute offers many opportunities to strengthen sisterhood within your own groups and with us. Check out:
Henna Party
Hennaglyphics
Sip & Steam Party
The Journey Within
Pink Moon Bellydance
The Blessing Way
The Queen Mother Ceremony
Moontracking
The Yoniverse
Yoni Eggs
​and more...

(a working list)