Multicultural school assembly, San Jose, California, Russian balalaika and garmoshka music, dancer
Russian dance and music trio presented a program of Russian songs, music and dances in San Jose, California. The concert took place at the Los Paseos Elementary School (121 Avenida Grande, San Jose, CA 95139) on Monday, March 25, 2013. Dancer Elena performed Russian (Barynya, Metelitsa), Ukrainian "Pidmanula", Gypsy "Dark Eyes" traditional and classical ballet dances. Founder and Artistic Director of the group, Russian ethnomusicologist Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals) led the performance. The program of the show included Russian, Ukrainian, Cossack, Siberian folk songs, traditional and ballet dances, performances on musical instruments such as balalaika (Russian traditional string instrument), garmoshka (Russian folk button accordion), guitar, treshotki, vertushka, lozhki. Mikhail was hosting the performance by giving a short explanation of every number of the program in English. He talked briefly about costumes, folk instruments, Russian traditions, explained the difference between Russian and English alphabet, and performed Russian tongue-twisters.
Musical director of the group Elina Karokhina performed a few solos on Russian folk instrument balalaika, danced Siberian folk dance "Metelitsa" ("The Snowstorm"). Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, and students performed together popular Russian song "Katyusha".
Russian dance and music trio is available for hire for performing art centers, school assemblies, festivals, colleges, libraries, concert halls, restaurants, private and corporate events as one powerful ensemble or in smaller groups.
Thursday, November 5th, 2020. Virtual performances at the Evergreen Elementary School, San Jose, California
On Thursday, November 5th, 2020 dancers and musicians of Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya presented two virtual performances titled BARYNYA. From Russia With Love. Music, songs, and dances of old Russia. 45 min program of each assembly included introduction to Russian language, culture, Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Jewish and Gypsy Roma traditional dancing, music, songs, and virtuoso performances on instruments including the balalaika, garmoshka (Russian folk button accordion) and balalaika contrabass. Cast of performers: dancer Konstantin Tulinov, Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals), Elina Karokhina (balalaika), dancer Elena Notkina, dancer Alexander Rudoy, dancer Katsiaryna Mileuskaya,
dancer Zheniya Berdzinishvili, dancer Vladimir Nikitin, dancer Sergey Tsyganok, dancer Veronika Hunko, dancer Valentina Kvasova, dancer Maryia Zhukovich,
dancer Olga Chpitalnaia, dancer Anna Brovkina, dancer Katerina Brovkina, dancer Irina Kl, dancer Ilia Pankratov, dancer Danila Sherstobitov, and dancer Aliaksandr Anatska.