Rasheedah Sharif "Lady Ra"
A Doing Something Approach To Happiness and Health.
Rasheedah Sharif, known as Lady Ra, is a professional with over 40 years of experience as an Educator, Therapeutic Counselor, Speaker, Play Wright and Artist.
Mission: To Share, Empower & Support others by providing services, products, listening, communicating information, inspiring and motivating.
At Lady Ra Performing Arts, we believe that doing something has the power to transform individual lives and enrich communities.
Lady Ra, is an author, artist, and alternative therapist. She specializes in trauma related topics.
Writing and the dramatization of real life experiences helps with self-awareness. When role playing, participants are able to see and feel life from a different perspective.
Lady Ra incorporates the performing arts, by the use of drama and plays, as a means to communicate her message that mental health matters.
"The performing arts, drama and creating plays have always been used in everything I do.
As a child, I pretended to create fashion shows with my dolls as they performed various acts of drama, while strolling them down my make believe runway.
I have acted in plays as early as my elementary school days.
During those days, I recall one part in particular.
It was a lead role in a drama. I played the role of a witch in "Play - Macbeth," by Shakespeare.
Another experience (drama) was when I played the role in a play as Lady In Brown, "For Colored Girls Who have considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf," by Ntozake Shange.
This was during my Bloomfield College days.
I believe my most meaningful performing arts experience was my creation of, "The Watoto Drama Ensemble."
Founded in 1985, Rasheedah's love for the Performing Arts started with a small group of performers, The Watoto Drama Ensemble.
She wanted to bring her love of the arts to the community, by creating original plays.
Over the years, the drama ensemble has grown into an
out-of-the-box performing arts concept, offering motivational classes and workshops, and performances to people of all ages.
"In the beginning, (1985) the drama ensemble was created based on a need for school aged children, looking for something meaningful to do during the summer time.
We decided to write and perform dramatical plays, based on real life and self-value.
This meant raising money, getting parents involved, creating costumes and props and finding venues for our production.
The plays were always based on everyday challenges and situations, which displayed a lot of experienced drama.
There was always an emphasis on solving the problems.
We also created plays based on historical era's or on people such as Harriet Tubman and Kings and Queens of Africa.
The Watoto Drama Ensemble performed at a variety of locations in the city of East Orange, NJ.
Our theatrical performances recieved the attention of local politicians.
Because of the community work I/we were doing, I was asked to run for a political position as county committee member for the city of East Orange, NJ; in which I won.
However, I only remained for one election period.
My free spirit personality wouldn't allow for me to run again.
When I left New Jersey, the creative concept of The Watoto Drama Ensemble came with me and was used throughout my professional career.
Early in my career I discovered, if you want to get a message across. you need to sometimes step away from systemic or traditional methods and become creative, based on the current needs.
The performing arts have always been my primary method for communicating messages.
I am thankful for my creative energy and the ability to help others by using this Divine gift.
The performing arts, using drama and creating plays helps me to provide a healthy and creative space, for communicating empowering messages.
At Lady Ra Performing Arts, we set out to inspire creativity and passion for the performing arts."
Rasheedah is the Author of three books.
- Author: Don't Come Down From the Chinaberry Tree, Somewhere In A Rainbow, SWEA Tree Color Meditation
- Motivational Speaker: 1978
- Performing Artist: Spoken Word, Theatre 1984
- Watoto Drama Ensemble 1985
- Educator: Professional Academic Teacher 1985
- Bachelor of Arts Political Science: 1985
- Tai Chi Practitioner: 2012
- Master of Science Addiction Counseling: 2013
- Licensed Zumba Instructor: 2021
- Grief Support Therapist: 2023
- Volunteer Georgia Department of Corrections: 2023
"Art has always been a a beautiful, natural, loving and creative experience for me.
I am the mother of eight great children; four daughters and four sons.
My children are my blessings and my greatest work of art."
Peace and Love,
Lady Ra, Rasheedah Sharif