Alchemy Performance is engaged in several collaborations, on both an ongoing and a single project basis. Scroll down to read about our current projects:

Alchemy Dance Theater: a contemporary global dance company

HYBRID: a forum for new evolutions in contemporary global performance

Alchemy Performance Collaborations: ongoing projects with musicians, DJs, theater and installation artists, and movers in all disciplines: contemporary dance, yoga, new circus, classical Indian dance, and beyond

Alchemy Dance Theater celebrates the alchemy of tradition and innovation, tribal and urban, ritual and spectacle. Inspired by dance from around the world -- both ancient and contemporary -- as well as yoga and somatic practices, their work evolves a new alchemy from these varied sources. ADT is Sarah Johansson Locke, Irina Kom, and Renata.

Sarah Johansson Locke is the artistic director of Alchemy Performance and Alchemy Dance Theater. Click here for her bio.

Irina Kom is a belly dancer strongly influenced by tribal fusion style. She grew up in Russia, travelled various parts of the world, and now lives in NYC. Over the years, her dance evolved, pushing the boundaries of a particular style into the open space of dance as an art form. She began her path in belly dance through learning America Tribal Style (ATS) and group improvisation first under the guidance of Susan Nicholson and then Joy Rayman. Irina traveled to workshops of Rachel Brice, Jill Parker, Heather Stants, Zoe Jakes, Mira Betz, and other unique and skillful artists who inspired and facilitated her growth as a dancer. A few years ago, she discovered Suhaila Salimpour format and has been a dedicated student of Suhaila ever since. In August 2008, she received Level II Certification of the format and continues to deepen her practice in dance. Inspired by many forms of artistic expression, she is in constant pursuit of experiences that enrich her practice, performance, and teaching of dance. In the past several years, she traveled to Russia and Ukraine, bringing tribal fusion belly dance style to those parts of the world. Irina performs as a soloist and is a member of Alchemy Dance Theater (NYC) and an alumni-member of Fire in the Belly Dance Company (Charlottesville, VA). She teaches regular belly dance classes at Sol Dance Center in Astoria. In June 2011 Irina presented her first evening length work, Deep Red, which she conceived, choreographed, directed, produced, and performed in with a talented team of collaborating artists.

Renata is a multi-faceted performer: dancer, singer, percussionist, and actor. As a drummer, dancer and solo singer, she was a member of UC Santa Barbara's Middle Eastern Ensemble for over 10 years under the tutelage of Scott Marcus, Souhail Kaspar and Alexandra King. In 1998, she traveled to Egypt to study dance, percussion and vocal technique with masters Raquia Hassan, Aida Nour and the Reda Troupe. Having studied various dance styles, such as flamenco, salsa, tango, African, khatak, and ballet, Renata has been a member of several dance companies in California. Renata has also studied Persian, Balkan, Dhrupad and flamenco vocal techniques and has performed with her teachers Mamak Khadem and Shanti Shivani. Renata is currently living and making mischief in NYC. She is a member of the Desert Sin Dance Company and Alchemy Dance Theater, and performs as a guest artist in a wide array of productions and events as a dancer, stilter, poi spinner, fire performer, and more. Her latest music project is Sherifa, an ensemble that explores the acoustic sounds of Macedonia, Turkey, Greece, Albania and the Middle East. When she grows up she would like to be a synchronized swimmer. Her other life is as a documentary filmmaker; you can find her there at www.renegadepix.net.




HYBRID is a performance series curated and produced by Sarah Johansson Locke which featurnes artists who explore new forms and fusions from ancient and contemporary sources. Dancers, musicians, spoken word and circus artists, these performers sample ethnic and electronic elements -- from India to the Balkans, North Africa to Brooklyn -- and remix them into a moving collage across cultures.

HYBRID began in 2006; there have been 12 shows to date. Alchemy Dance Theater and musician Pete List are HYBRID resident artists. Other artists have included: Kazuma Motomura, Urban Tribal Dance Company, Desert Sin, Solstice, Anasma, Kassar, Mira Betz, Mavi, Donna Mejia, Calamity Sam, Fire in the Belly, Shakra, Katie Down, DJ Amar, Balkan Tales, Ansambl Mastika, and many more. Check the events page to see a listing of other artists who've appeared in past shows, and to find out about upcoming performances.


Sarah and Alchemy Dance Theater collaborate with artists in all media, both on an ongoing basis and for single projects. Recently, Sarah has been a guest artist with Desert Sin Dance Company for their long-running production of Musee des Femmes as well Winter in the Woods and other projects. Renata and Irina both perform regularly as solo artists and in collaboration with a wide range of dancers, theater and circus artists, and musicians.