Russian music, dance and song ensemble "Barynya" provided Russian folk song and dance workshop and formal 90 min performance on Tuesday, April 17th 2018 at the Darien High School, 80 High School Lane, Darien CT 06820. Folk songs and dance master class with high school and middle school students started at 5pm. Performance started at 7pm. Cast of Barynya performers: Vladimir Nikitin, Konstantin Tulinov, Serhiy Tsyganok, Simona Zhukovski, Olga Chpitalnaia, Dinara Subaeva, Leonid Bruk, Alisa Egorova, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov. Program of performance: Russian folk song and dance KALINKA (The Snowball Tree), Russian song and dance METELITSA (The Snowstorm), Sibirian Nanai dance (НАНАЕЦ), BARYNYA, PIDMANULA, KAMARINSKAIA, TATARSKIY, contrabass-balalaika solo, Jewish Candle dance, Andgry Husband (КАК ЗАСТАВИЛ МЕНЯ МУЖ), Jewish Bottle dance (БУТЫЛКИ), Peddlers (КОРОБУШКА), Cossack dance (КАЗАЧИЙ ТАНЕЦ ВАРЕНЬКА), Russian Tongue-Twisters (СКОРОГОВОРКИ), Sailors dance (ЯБЛОЧКО), Ukrainian National Dance "Hopak" (ГОПАК), Dark Eyes (ОЧИ ЧЕРНЫЕ), Russian Gypsy Romani dance Mardzhandzha (ЦЫГАНСКИЙ ТАНЕЦ МАРДЖАНДЖА), Waltz Durane (ДЮРАН), and other selections.
Balalaika Balalaika Trio at the Darien High School in Connecticut
Leonid Bruk, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov performed one hour concert in Darien, Connecticut in the summer of 2017. Concert and workshop took place at the Darien High School. The Balalaika Trio performed Siberian Nanai Wrestling Dance "Нанаец", Russian folk button accordion "GARMOSHKA" (Russian: Гармошка) introduction with traditional Russian song "Kalinka" (Калинка), Russian wedding dance "The Snowstorm" (Russian: "Метелица"), Kamarinskaiya, Russian folk instrument balalaika introduction ("Камаринская"), Russian Tongue Twisters Medley ("Скороговорки"), Jewish wedding dance "Свечки", Russian Percussian Orchestra interactive game with students ("Трещётки"),
Russian Romani Roma Gypsy song and dance ("Цыганский"), Russian folk dance lesson ("Урок танца"), Ukrainian folk song and dance Pidmanoola ("Украинский"),
instrumental solo "Чардаш", Russian Bear dance "Медведь", Дюран Waltz #1, Long Road-Those Were The Days (Дорогой длинной), Fiddler On The Roof Medley, The Butterfly Waltz by V.V.Andreev (Бабочка), Russian folk song "Husband Forsed Me" (Как заставил меня муж), Dark Eyes (Очи чёрные), Felt Boots (Валенки), Doctor Zhivago's Somewhere My Love Lara's theme (Доктор Живаго), The Moon Is Shining Brightly (Светит месяц), Corelli variations (Корелли), Fluffy Bumblebee (Мохнатый шмель), Sabre Dance (Танец с саблями), White Acacia (Белой акации), World Music Balalaika Medley (Попурри), Chardash (Чардаш), and other selections.
Elina Karokhina was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia. She began her formal training at the Mussorgsky Music College of St. Petersburg and continued her training at N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, earning a degree as an Orchestra Soloist. Elina continued her training at the Conservatory, which included a brief residency in Germany. After, she returned to her native St. Petersburg and completed her education, earning a Doctor of Musical Art Degree in the Balalaika. Following her graduation, she began working as a musician, both as a teacher and as a performer, teaching balalaika. Elina Karokhina served in the Russian Army in the Military Ensemble in the Northwest Order of Red Stars. She is a winner of International Music Competition in Cherepovets and a Holder of the First Place in Troyanovsky's Competition for musicians performing of traditional instruments in St. Petersburg, Russia. As a balalaika soloist Elina has toured all over the world.
Elina Karokhina on the stage of the Carnegie Hall in New York City
She was a soloist of State Concert Russian Orchestra of Saint Petersburg under direction of Honored Performer of Russia Vladimir Popov (Russian: Государственный Русский концертный оркестр Санкт-Петербурга, Художественный руководитель и главный дирижер – Заслуженный деятель искусств России ВЛАДИМИР ПОПОВ.) When she moved to the United States in 2009 she was hired as a musicial director and soloist with the biggest professional Russian music, song and dance ensemble Barynya (New York). In January 2015 Elina Karokhina was selected to perform the balalaika part with Mariinsky Theatre directed by world-famous conductor Valery Gergiev in Rodion Shchedrin's opera "The Enchanted Wanderer" at the Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York. In May 2016 she was hired to play several concerts at the Carnegie Hall in New York City with symphony orchestra, choir, and opera soloists as a soloist of "The Orchestra Rocks" production.
About Leonid Bruk:
Acclaimed New York based contrabass balalaika player Leonid Bruk was born in Leningrad, Russia. Leonid was graduated from music school as a bass guitarist and performed with many different groups. In 1998 he joined Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya. In 2000 he founded his own Russian folk music trio "BROOKLYN BALALAIKAS". Since 1889 when he arrived to USA, Leonid Bruk (Russian: Леонид Кимович Брук) was deeply attracted to the bass-balalaika and contrabass balalaika.
Leonid Bruk has played with variuos folk groups including NYC Klezmer Band, Tamara Volskaia's Russian Souvenir ensemble, Mandalin Orchestra of New York, NYC Russian Band and New York Balalaika Orchestra and soon become known expert in Russian folk music. His specialty is playing balalaika bass and balalaika-contrabass.
About Mikhail Smirnov:
Mikhail Smirnov was born in Moscow, Russia in 1966. He has been in the business of Russian folk dance and music for more than 25 years. Mikhail is an artistic director and founder of ensemble Barynya based in New York City, author of many articles about traditional Russian dance, music and instruments in English and Russian. Mikhail received his Master's degree from the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts. As a child, he was a member of the famous "Moscow Boys Chorus" - one of the most prestigious all-male choirs in Russia.
Before coming to the United States in 1991, Mikhail was a soloist in a several Russian folk dance and music groups including the Moscow State Center for Russian song, "Russkaya Pesnya", under the direction of Nadezhda Babkina. In January 2009 Mikhail Smirnov and dancers of ensemble Barynya were featured on national TV, NBC's "SUPERSTARS OF DANCE" - breathtaking international dance competition led by executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance). This prestigious dance competition hosted by Michael Flatley ("Lord of the Dance") and Susie Castillo, a former Miss USA. Mikhail Smirnov was one of eight judges to decide which country will win. The show premiered on NBC network.
Haynes Elementary School, Niantic, CT, February 26, 2018
Russian traditional dance, song, and music trio provided 45 min performance of Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Russian Gypsy and Jewish dances, songs, and music on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at the Haynes Elementary School in Connecticut. Cast od performers: Mikhail Smirnov, Vasiliy Romani, and Ukrainian Cossack dancer Serhiy Tsyganok.
Concert at the Tokeneke School in Darien, Connecticut, March 6th, 2018
Russian dance, song, and music ensemble Barynya led by Russian folk accordion garmoshka player and singer Mikhail Smirnov with Russian Gypsy singer Vasiliy Romani and Ukrainian Cossack dancer Serhiy Tsyganok provided two 45 min performances of Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Russian Gypsy and Jewish songs, music, and dances on Tuesday, March 6th, 2018, 8:45 and 9:45am at the Tokeneke School, 7 Old Farm Rd, Darien, CT 06820. Program of performance included Russian folk song with garmoshka "Subboteya" (Russian: Субботея), Russian folk dance Barynya, Russian song KATYUSHA , COSSACK DANCE, solo on Russian seven string guitar by Vasily "VENGERKA" (ВЕНГЕРКА), Jewish BOTTLE DANCE, dance of Russian Bear (ТАНЕЦ МЕДВЕДЬ), Russian song "My darling" (ЖИВЁТ MОЯ ОТРАДА), Ukrainian folk song and dance PIDMANULA, Russian Tongue-Twister (СКОРОГОВОРКА), RUSSIAN ALPHABET LESSON, Russian folk song "KOROBUSHKA" with the percussian ORCHESTRA consisted of students, Russian folk DANCE LESSON, Russian folk dance KALINKA.
Smith Middle School, Glastonbury, Connecticut, March 1st, 2018
Russian traditional dance, song, and music ensemble Barynya provided evening performance at the auditorium and instructional component (Russian dance workshop) at the gymnasium on Thursday, March 1st, 2018 during 2018 International Night at the Smith Middle School, 216 Addison Road, Glastonbury, CT 06033. Cast of performers included Simona Zhukovski (dancer), Olga Chpitalnaia (dancer), Russian folk accordion garmoshka player and singer Mikhail Smirnov, and balalaika virtouso Elina Karokhina.