Reverend Nafisa Sharriff has been dancing professionally since the age of 17. She is a Masterful Teacher and Choreographer of Traditional West African Folklore from the Old Malian Empire.

Over the course of her illustrious 43-year dance career Reverend Sharriff was the recipient of the 1996 Ethnic Dance Award and numerous Community Service commemorations. She was the featured dance soloist on the Stevie Wonder tour, “Characters” and was featured in a duet with TC Carson in his live production of, “Innocent Love”. Additionally, Reverend Sharriff toured with C&C Music Factory, the Chuck Davis Dance Company and Kairaba West African Dance Company.

Her television credits include performances on the Richard Pryor Show, Dance Black America & Positively Black with Gil Nobel. In addition, she choreographed, “Cantos Latinos,” starring Eddie Palmieri & Los Hovenes del Barrio for channel 13-PBS. She can also be seen in numerous music videos with artists such as Anita Baker, Kool Moe Dee & Angelique Kidjo.

Reverend Sharriff’s theatrical credits for choreography include the Obie Award winning play, “Blown Sideways Through Life,”(Off-Broadway) “Spiritual Journey” (Apollo/EST) and “A Joyful Noise” starring Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston and Leon Thomas.

Under the direction of the late, internationally renowned Dr. Charles R. Davis Reverend Sharriff not only taught, but also choreographed and performed for the American Dance Festival at Duke University as well as numerous colleges and Universities throughout New York City and across the country.

As a long-standing consultant with Amida Care (New York) Reverend Nafisa Sharriff continues to inspire, encourage and empower men and woman living with HIV and AIDS to live their lives fully with mindfulness, enthusiasm, hope and joy!

For the past fifteen years Reverend Sharriff has taught free traditional West African Dance Classes at Countee Cullen Community Center/Harlem Children’s Zone in Harlem, NY where everyone is welcomed into her family of Love