ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

Alchemy Performance
http://www.alchemyperformance.com

Sarah Johansson Locke is a performer, choreographer, and teacher whose work is inspired by her experience with several forms of ethnic and contemporary dance, theater, yoga, and somatic modalities, as well as her training and interest in cultural studies, international folk art traditions, and the visual arts.  She has been involved with projects ranging from site-specific installations and street theater to international arts festivals and large theater productions, both across the U.S. and in Europe.  She is the artistic director of Alchemy Peformance, a founding member of Adelantre, and a facilitator of PURE (Public Urban Ritual Experiment).  Sarah currently teaches dance and yoga and performs regularly throughout NYC. 

 

Ammo - Bio and Picture Coming Soon 

Chovexani
http://www.chovexani.com

Zan Asha is a dreamer, just like you. Her decades long work in both theater and ethnic dance has culminated in a unique collective of dances, and dancers, that fuse dance in unconventional ways. As director of ChoveXani (Shu-VAH-nee) dance/theater, she creates dark and ancient dances, often described as "gothic," which blend unconventional dance techniques and storytelling ideas. She also heads Morrigan productions, which brings unique events to New York City, including this Fall's theatrical event, Night of 1000 Goddesses. 
Carmine
http://www.carmine.com

New York City-based mulitinstrumentalist Carmine T. Guida is a familiar face at Middle Eastern dance and music events throughout the country. A dancers' musician, Carmine is appreciated as an enthusiastic, adaptable, and creative accompanist on both doumbek and oud; he plays weekly for belly dancers with several New York City ensembles. 

DJINN
http://www.djinnnyc.com/ 

Brooklyn’s own “East Coast tribal” style music ranging from traditional Middle Eastern to an experimental blending of traditional instruments with electronics and beat boxing. 
  Darshan
bio and pic coming soon
Hello. My name is Alimah Kali and I'm a bellydance addict. ;P

I first learned about this most fabulous dance when I met my Cabaret-style teacher, Noora e'Shams, who was teaching at my local Lucille Roberts gym. I was intimidated at first, but then discovered that I had a natural knack for isolating my hips from my torso. She and I became very good friends and I did everything I could to learn as much as possible. In other words, I followed her around like a fiend. Cabaret seemed perfect for my light and airy personality. I studied under her for about a year, but then had to stop because I was attended school and my classes conflicted with hers.

In my time at school, I would search the internet for bellydance videos to keep my addiction alive. This is how I found out about Tribal and had my first exposure to Tribal Fusion in discovering Rachel Brice. It was very clear to me that Tribal was nothing like I'd learned before. As I tried to learn more about it, I wondered if there was anyone in NYC that taught this art from California. That's how I found out about Sarah Locke of Alchemy Performance. It was a different style of the same drug. Tribal appeals to the barefoot dancer that I've always loved to be and keeps me closer to my beloved friends. I've been happily addicted for a little under a year now and hope to keep it up for the rest of my days.

Irina's Bio

Irina is a huge fan of the Middle Eastern/Tribal dance and music (especially of that, which is performed in the New York City – East Coast pride, darn it!). A member of PURE (Public Urban Ritual Experiment), a faithful student of Alchemy's Sarah Locke, Naraya, Salome and many others, she has been a dancer for most of her life. Oh and she loves the color green. A lot.

Karim Nagi is a native Egyptian who specializes in traditional Arabic music. He uses his traditional foundation to re-imagine the culture, discovering progressive deliveries and new concepts. Karim performs primarily Arabic, Turkish and Andalusian hand percussion, including the Egyptian Tabla (goblet drum), Riqq (tambourine), Duff (frame drum), and Segat (brass castanets). Karim has authored instructional CDs and DVDs including the first DVD resource on Riqq technique. Karim is a faculty member of the New England Conservatory of Music. Karim leads the SHARQ Arabic Music Ensemble performing the classical Arabic instrumental and vocal repertoire. Karim travels the country presenting his education program called Arabic Music, Dance and Culture to school grades 2 up through the university level. Karim developed and currently performs Turbo Tabla : a music and dance show that combines traditional Arabic and Turkish music with modern Electronica and Techno. Turbo Tabla CDs are distributed internationally by Universal Records. Karim dances and teaches Dabka (Arabic Line Dance), leads the Zaitoun Dabka Troupe, and is the director of the Arab Dance Seminar, a travelling weekend of workshops for professional training in pan-Arab dance.

For more information on Karim visit: http://www.turbotabla.com
Don’t call Lloyd Floyd a comic.  He is a freak of the highest order. Although you’ve heard him all over tv and radio, you’ll never know it’s him. He is the man of 1036 voices. Part man, part cartoon, his octaine is high, but his brow is low. Fully half his act is made up on the spot, so the comedy’s always fresh…and the jokes are always filthy. I mean rotten. I mean bloodyawfulfilthyfuckinrotten. Y’know…for kids. He also teaches impressions using his patented 5 part system. Private lessons only. And no Christians. Oh yeah…he’s a witch.
Mimi
bio coming soon
 

Naraya 
http://www.myspace.com/vadalna 

Naraya's Bio Naraya started her Middle Eastern dance training over ten years in Oregon where she first glimpsed the beautiful and powerful tribal style of Gypsy Caravan. After having performed cabaret professionally for over five years, the draw of tribal dancers such as Rachel Brice and Sharon Kihara proved too much for her and she began her tribal dance training in earnest. Naraya is currently beginning her newest project, Vadalna, a tribal duet collaboration with Mimi Fontana soon to take over the world near you. Also a member of Alchemy Dance Theatre and Zikrayat - Classical Egyptian Ensemble, Naraya is also an avid researcher of the history of Middle Eastern dance and hosts regular lectures and demonstrations at the CUNY Graduate Center and the surrounding area.


Naraya can be reached via:

* themoonunderherfeet@hotmail.com
* http://www.myspace.com/vadalna
* http://www.NarayaDance.com (Coming soon!)

  

Raquy and the Cavemen 
http://www.raquyandthecavemen.com

When Middle Eastern music extraordinaire Raquy Danziger joined forces with hard rock musician Liron Peled, the result was dark, powerful Middle Eastern music with a heavy emphasis on Arabic drumming, backed by a band of Arab and Israeli musicians.  
 
Raquy, the leader of the group, plays the Iranian Kamanche, a rare and exotic bowed instrument reminiscent of an ancient violin. She is most known for her electrifying performances of original percussion compositions on the Dumbek (Arabic hand drum), which leave audiences awestruck.  
 
The group explores the fascinating genre of Progressive Middle-Eastern music with its rich variety of exotic instruments, pulsating rhythms, and evocative scales. Their 1st CD, "DUST" (© 2003) has reached the top 20 on the CMJ chart for multiple weeks. Their latest CD "Jordan" (© 2005) has debuted on the top 30 on the same chart. The group received airplay in the US, Canada, Central America, Israel and Europe.  
 
Raquy and the Cavemen have appeared at Lollapalooza, Central Park Summerstage, FloydFest and PASIC among others. They are performing regularly in the US with occasional tours abroad. 
 
Raquy and the Cavemen also give workshops and master classes in Middle-Eastern drumming.

Sera
http://www.seradance.com/

Sera is a performer, Instructor, and choreographer of Belly dance, based in New York City.  Sera's primary form of creative expression is through Tribal styles of belly dance. Her movements are rooted in Tribal Fusion Bellydance, drawing from ballet, Modern, Jazz, hip-hop, and ATS tribal to make a blend of what she calls East Coast Tribal. Sera is a full time teacher, and performer at various venues in New York City, director of Solstice Dance Ensemble, and has created an instructional belly dance video entitled "East Coast Tribal".  Sera produces a popular monthly event in New York called New Moon, which features a Tribal performance and the band Djinn. A former member of three nationally respected dance troupes, Bellyqueen, Raqs Sahara, and the Silk Road Dance Company,  former artistic director of Transcendance Tribal and a founding member of DC Tribal.  In 2005, Sera was invited to India to teach dance as a means of healing and empowerment to young women who had been rescued from sexual abuse. Sera strives to push the boundaries of definition of belly dance, and seeks to cultivate environments and events which encourage dancers to use belly dance as a tool for creative expression transcending formal presentation and physical skill. 


Vadalna 
http://www.myspace.com/vadalna 

Vadalna is the newest tribal collaboration to transform NYC. Creators, Mimi Fontana and Naraya, bring their years of experience from Maqamikaze Dance Company and Alchemy Dance Theatre to create a fusion of styles and backgrounds in their newest endeavor. Classical Egyptian cabaret training meets tribal belly dance where tribal fusion and a splash of hip hop make it oh-so-nice. Check it…