ShaLeigh Dance Works

08/04/2025

There will be no ShaGa class this Friday, August 8th. We look forward to grooving together again on September 5th! ✨

06/16/2025

We are so proud of our longtime collaborator Suvya Diaheema Carroll for courageously sharing her experience and raising her voice. Her message is a powerful call to action 💖🙏

In Suvya’s words:
“I just want y’all to take a minute and read this. Some of you know, and some of you don’t—but before you jump to conclusions, know that I was safe and well taken care of during this event. I’m sharing this because it’s time to start using your voice to advocate for what’s right and speak up for people who can’t always speak for themselves.

Right now, they’re trying to take away Medicaid and SNAP—critical support for people with disabilities and low-income families. If you have a friend or family member in that situation, please share this with them. If this bill passes, so many people are going to suffer even more than they already have.

Please read the article with an open mind and an open heart. This is something we need to talk about.”

It’s not too late! We can all still act:

1. Spread the word—share Suvya’s message far and wide.
2. Contact your senators and urge them to protect Medicaid and SNAP.

Let’s amplify voices like Suvya’s and stand together for equity, access, and care. 💪❤️



https://religionnews.com/2025/06/02/faith-leaders-healthcare-advocates-arrested-while-protesting-hop-budget-bill-in-capitol/?fbclid=IwY2xjawK9WMNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFQd2pVcFlmSjgyWnFKakxIAR7UdWcuaJf3Pw_fW-GgE_ckwtuqXgqB0ji1_D0BWfe7Spwg4gEt2ORFs9j00Q_aem_P-iK7Ds3PG2OPAG1yvg5_Q

(RNS) — Capitol police said nine people were charged with 'crowding, obstructing and incommoding.'

03/13/2025

We are excited to have ShaLeigh Comerford with as a Featured Presenter for ARTS Day this year!

ShaLeigh Dance Works is a nonprofit dance-theater company based in Durham, NC, founded in 2005 by artistic director ShaLeigh Comerford. It is dedicated to inspiring individuals of all abilities, social backgrounds, cultures, and generations through the transformative power of dance.

Join us to move and be inspired through dance!

We are excited to have , Award-Winning Cartoonist, as a Featured Presenter at ARTS Day this year!

Keith Knight is a critically acclaimed comics creator and cartoonist. He has received the Comic-Con Inkpot, a CXC Master Cartoonist Award, several Glyph Awards for best comic strip, a Harvey Award, has been nominated for an Eisner, the NAACP Image Award, and served as the co-creator, writer, and executive producer of the 2020 Hulu series, “Woke.” Knight is originally from Malden, Massachusetts, and now calls Carrboro, NC, home.

Join us to learn more about the power of cartoons in advocacy!

📆 To register for ARTS Day: https://artsnc.org/arts-day/arts-day-registration/

03/07/2025

It’s been far too long since our hearts have danced in unison, and we’re beyond excited to reconnect with you this evening at 6:00 PM for Community ShaGa! Last month’s gathering was an explosion of energy, connection, and beautiful souls reminding us why we come together. ❣️
We hope to see you this evening at Reality, located at 916 Lamond Ave, Durham, NC 27701

Suggested Donation: $10 - $20 but no one is ever turned away for lack of funds. 🫶

Photo Credit: Stephanie Leathers

Image Description: A flyer with a black background and white text invites the reader to come groove with us. At the top, the words ”Come groove with us at Reality 916 Lamond Ave, Durham, NC 27701” are followed by a white dotted line underneath it. Below the line, there is a photo of ShaLeigh dancing in the center of a group of people in Community ShaGa. Beneath the image reads: “Imagine your breath is breathing you.” - ShaLeigh Comerford”

01/03/2025

We can’t wait to kick off our first Community ShaGa of the year today at 6:00pm at Reality located at 916 Lamond Ave, Durham NC 27701 💫Last year was an amazing journey filled with incredible people, energy, and unforgettable moments, and we’re beyond grateful to each and every one of you who joined us. We’re excited to continue this journey of connection and joy in 2025, and we’re so ready to share this beautiful experience with you again! ShaGa is the perfect way to start off 2025 by refreshing your mind, body, and spirit, and we’d love to have you there! Let’s move, connect, and create more magical moments together. ❣️

Suggested Donation: $10 - $20 but no one is ever turned away for lack of funds. Your presence is truly priceless to us!! 🫶

Image description: A joyful, diverse group of ShaGa participants smile warmly at the camera, embracing each other at the end of a class

12/18/2024

We’re sending a heartfelt thank you to for their generous support! Your support has allowed us to expand our research on the perception of music in the absence of vision and sound. This includes the invaluable contributions of enVISION’s cohort of BVI and DHH community experts who guided our incredible sound design by and compositions by We lovingly call them the Ericks :) and could not imagine accomplishing these efforts without their astounding talent and commitment. New Music USA, We are deeply grateful for your commitment to advancing the future of music and are excited to see what comes next! 🎶❣️

As we wrap up this year and get ready for an incredible 2025, we’d love for YOU to be part of our donor family! Your support, no matter the size, helps us continue our mission of making art accessible to everyone. Let’s make next season our best yet! ✨ Ways to donate can be found in our Linktree in our bio!

Photo by:

enVISION: The Next Chapter was supported by New Music USA’s Organization Fund, with support in part from Fifth House Ensemble and legacy contributions to the New Music USA endowment. Support for organizations based in New York State is provided in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor. Support for organizations based in New York City is provided in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and with support from the Howard Gilman Foundation.

Image description: The post is centered around music. The background image is of Omar Ruiz-Lopez, who is playing the violin during a run of “enVISION: The Next Chapter”. The design in front of this image is similar to what appears on a screen when listening to a digital album. In big letters, “Thank you.” is written above the theoretical album cover, the picture of the album cover is the logo for NewMusicUSA. Below this logo is the words “enVISION: The Next Chapter” and below that is the words “Shaleigh Dance Works.”

12/11/2024

We can’t wait to connect with your beautiful souls this Friday at 6:00 PM for our second Community ShaGa! Last month was an unforgettable experience, filled with amazing souls, energy, and connection ❣️ ShaGa is the perfect way to refresh your mind, body, and spirit! Come join us for our final community groove of the year — let’s move, connect, and share some incredible moments together! 💫

Suggested Donation: $10 - $20 but no one is ever turned away for lack of funds. Your presence is truly priceless to us ♥️

Photo credit: Stephanie Leathers & Caroline Cockrell

Image description: A flyer with a black background and white text invites the reader to come groove with us. At the top, the words ‘Ready to groove?’ are followed by a white line underneath it. Below the line, two photos of a group of people in Community ShaGa, fully engaged in movement, are displayed. Beneath the images, reads: ‘In ShaGa, we move from our body, the ultimate refuge. We allow our bodies to become our teacher and our healer.’ Below that is the address for Reality which is where Community ShaGa is held : 916 Lamond Ave, Durham, NC 27701

12/09/2024

Sending lots of love to one of our amazing partners, Reality Center!💖 SDW has had the privilege of working alongside Reality since 2013, and we’re so grateful for all the memories we’ve made together—from community classes to incredible performances, Reality has been there every step of the way. We can’t thank you enough for your ongoing support, and we look forward to creating more memories together in the future!

We invite YOU to be part of our SDW family whether as a partner, a supporter, or a donor! Your support fuels our vision of inspiring people of all abilities, social backgrounds, cultures, and generations by making sure art is accessible to everyone. Let’s make next year our most impactful yet! 💫

✨Join our partner network or become a supporter today and help us make a difference!✨

🔗Visit the Linktree in our bio to learn how you can make a difference!



Photos by: Dan Ellison, Reality Staff and Friends

Image Description: A collage of photos with different members of Reality Ministries who have taken class and performed with Shaleigh Dance Works. Each individual in these photos has different abilities and backgrounds. These photos feature wheelchair users along with non-wheelchair users. In the center of the picture there are the words “Shaleigh Dance Works & Reality Ministries Through the Years.”

12/04/2024

This Giving Tuesday, help us keep the positive momentum going! When people think of ShaLeigh Dance Works, they often share stories of diversity, community, and love—just like our Company Member and Rehearsal Director , enVISION collaborator .rizzuto.75 and apprentice .prisk On this Giving Tuesday, your contribution helps us continue creating impactful moments and building a space where acceptance thrives! ❤️ To support ShaLeigh Dance Works this Giving Tuesday, visit the donation link in our Linktree, available in our bio, no contribution is too small; every gift counts!! ❣️

Image description: A vibrant pink graphic features quotes from Hannah Marr, Ed Rizzuto, and Amabel Prisk, reflecting their thoughts when they hear the name “ShaLeigh Dance Works.” Hannah says, “Diversity, acceptance for all, love for all, regardless.” Ed shares, “Joy, opportunity, sincerity, community, kind people, lots of good stuff!” Amabel expresses, “I get excited! And feel proud to be working with a company that truly makes an impact on the community. It’s so hard to find true, immersive, socially conscious dance-theater, and SDW embodies those words with full truth and force.”

At the center of the graphic are three pictures: the first shows Guest Artist Emily McClung and Hannah Marr sharing a warm embrace. The second features enVISION Collaborator Brice Smith and Guest Artist Phoebe Crumbine smiling at the camera, with Phoebe’s hands gently placed on Brice’s shoulders. The last image captures the enVISION Creative Team and Collaborators laughing and smiling together in a joyful group photo.

Photo Credit:

11/23/2024

A huge thank you to Alternate Roots for your generous support! 🎉 Thanks to your contribution, we’re excited to partner with Deborah LaLush to revamp our website, making it more accessible and user-friendly for all. This important project will help us create a better online space for our community, set to launch in 2025. We’re deeply grateful to Alternate Roots for being such a vital part of our growth and success!

We believe that dance should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability, and we are committed to making that vision a reality. With your support, we can continue to bring accessibility to the forefront of our process and create spaces where all voices are heard and all bodies are welcome. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference.

Help us keep this mission going by clicking the link in our bio. Thank you for supporting Shaleigh Dance Works and making a positive impact on the future of dance. 💙✨

Photo📸 by

Photo description: A graphic with a laptop on a desk. On the screen of the laptop is the poster image for ‘enVISION: The Next Chapter,’ which depicts a teal-colored, underwater-themed image of SDW company members Ciara, Hannah, and Elizabeth gazing through a weathered, broken window at Jessi, who stands outside the window. The overall aesthetic is dreamy and evocative, with a sense of depth and mystery.