Medinah, Illinois, IL, Russian dancers, musicians, singers, balalaika, garmoshka, Bear Mascot, multicultural school assembly

Russian song, dance and music ensemble Barynya performed in Medinah, Illinois on March 17th, 2014. Multicultural school assembly programs took places at the Medinah Intermediate School, (7 N 330 Medinah Rd, Medinah, IL 60157), and Medinah Primary School, (22 W 300 Sunnyside Rd, Medinah, IL 60157). Students and teachers spent 45 minutes of their time on Monday learning about Russian culture through songs, music, dance and language. Artistic director/founder Mikhail Smirnov played the garmoshka, a Russian-style diatonic button accordion and guitar. Dancer Alisch presented Russian, Gypsy, Cossack, Andizhan, Jewish Wedding Bottle dance, and the dance of "Russian Bear". Musical director of the group Elina Karokhina played the balalaika, a three-stringed, triangular instrument, performed Russian folk dance "Metelitsa" (The Snowstorm, Russian: «Метелица»), Russian Gypsy Roma dance "Kay One" ("Where Are They"), and Russian traditional dance "Kalinka" (Russian: «Калинка»).

CONTACT INFORMATION / Email: msmirnov@yahoo.com / Phone: (201) 981-2497

In between playing songs on their instruments, singing songs, and dancing traditional numbers to the music, Mikhail Smirnov shared a little bit of the Russian language with the students. He taught them phrases such as "Thank You" (SPASIBO), "Hello" (ZDRAVSTVUITE), "You're Welcome" (PAZHALUYSTA) and "Bye" (PAKA) as well as the alphabet and counting. He said each word in English and then slowly in Russian, allowing the children a moment to try the words themselves after each one. After the segment on words, the students attempted to chatter in Russian for a couple minutes, smiling and laughing about how they sounded. In the middle of the performance, Mikhail paused to share a couple of Russian tongue twisters, explaining each one in English first, and then saying them in Russian at top speed. With each one, the twisters got more complicated and lengthy. There was even a chance for a handful of students to get up on stage and try out a couple of Russian percussion instruments.

Russian dance and music trio Barynya: Mikhail, Elina, and Alisch

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The program of Multicultural School Assembly performance included "The Snowstorm" Khorovod song and dance «Метелица», "Kamarinskaya", Instrumental solo Russian dance «Камаринская» performed on guitar and balalaika, "The Peddlers" Russian folk song «Коробейники», "Kalinka" Russian folk dance «Калинка», "Amazing Balalaika" Medley «Волшебная балалайка», "Russian dance Workshop" interactive lesson «Урок Русского танца», "Russian Alphabet" interactive lesson «Урок Русского языка», "Where Are They?" Gypsy Roma song and dance «Кай-Йёне», "Chardash" balalaika instrumental solo «Чардаш», "Russian Bear" dance «Танец Медведя», "Russian Percussian Orchestra" interactive game «Оркестр Русских ударных инструментов», and few other selections. Established in 1991, ensemble Barynya presents Russian, Cossack and Jewish traditional dancing and music on instruments including the balalaika, balalaika contrabass, guitar and garmoshka. Barynya has been invited to perform at some of the most prestigious cultural venues in the U.S., including Carnegie Hall, the Smithsonian, the United Nations and the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Ensemble Barynya 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.

CONTACT INFORMATION / Email: msmirnov@yahoo.com / Phone: (201) 981-2497

VIDEOS

Video of the concert at the Medinah Primary School

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Video of the concert at the Medinah Intermediate School

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PHOTOS

Balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina plays Russian folk song "Kamarinskaia"

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Russian Gypsy dance

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Russian Gypsy Roma dance "Kai One"

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Bottle dance

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Russian Bear dance

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Russian Khorovod Dance "Metelitsa" (The Snowstorm)

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Russian Gypsy Dance "Kai One" ("Where Are They")

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Mikhail Smirnov plays his garmoshka and sings Russian folk song "Moroz-Moros" ("Father Frost")

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CONTACT INFORMATION / Email: msmirnov@yahoo.com / Phone: (201) 981-2497

Multicultural school assembly at the Patton Elementary School, Arlington Heights, IL

Russian song, dance and music ensemble Barynya performed in Arlington Heights, Illinois on March 14th, 2014. Multicultural school assembly program took place at the Patton Elementary School, 1616 N Patton Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Students and teachers spent 45 minutes of their Friday morning learning about Russian culture through songs, music, dance and language. Artistic director/founder Mikhail Smirnov played the garmoshka, a Russian-style diatonic button accordion and guitar. Elina Karokhina played balalaika, dances were performed by Aleesher.

Multicultural school assembly, Patton Elementary School, Arlington Heights, IL
Multicultural school assembly, Patton Elementary School, Arlington Heights, IL

Russian Band, Fairmont Chicago Hotel, Chicago, IL

Musicians and dancers of Russian music, song, and dance ensemble Barynya provided music and dance entertainment for corporate event in Chicago, Illinois. Cast of Barynya team included Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals), Alex Siniavski (balalaika, Gypsy guitar), Stefan Kuziw (tambourine, dancer), Richard Armandi (contrabass), Andrij Cybyk and Natalia Ejova. The program of performance included Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Russian Gypsy Roma, and Russian Jewish music, songs and dances. The event took place on Sunday, April 29th, 2007 from 8pm to 11pm for “Gorodissky & Partners”, Ltd. reception at the Fairmont Chicago Hotel, 200 N Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60601.

Russian Band, Fairmont Chicago Hotel, Chicago, ILRussian Band, Fairmont Chicago Hotel, Chicago, IL
Russian Band, Fairmont Chicago Hotel, Chicago, IL

Russian wedding at the Astoria Restaurant and Catering Hall

Mixed Russian-American wedding took place on Saturday, July 21st, 2012 at the Astoria restaurant and Catering Hall, 1375 West Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 (Chicago, Illinois, USA). Bilingual (English-Russian) MC-Tamada Mikhail and DJ Natasha provided music and entertainment. The scenario of the wedding included ceremony, coctail hour, grand entrance, Russian traditional Velichalnaia song, toasts from mother of the bride, maid of honor, best man, first dance of the Groom and Bride, 4 sets of dancing, number of funny wedding games and competitions including "Find Your Husband", "Find Your Wife", "Mind-Reading Game", "Ransom for the Bride", "Garter", "Bouquet Tossing", "Cutting the Cake", and others.

Russian wedding DJ, MC, tamada in Chicago, IL
Russian wedding DJ, MC, tamada in Chicago, IL

Concert of Barynya ensemble at the Wilson Hall, Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois

Russian dance, song, and music ensemble Barynya performed a concert on Saturday, April 20th, 2013 for Fermilab Arts & Lecture Series in Batavia, IL 60510. The show took place at the Ramsey Auditorium (inside the Wilson Hall) at Fermilab (Wilson and Kirk Roads, Batavia, IL 60510-5011). Cast of performers: Danila Sherstobitov, Valentina Kvasova, Olga Chpitalnaia, Elina Karokhina, Andrei Kisselev, singer Vladimir Loginov, ballet dancer Yelena Maleenina, violin player, and keyboard player.

Ensemble Barynya concert at the Wilson Hall at Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois
Ensemble Barynya concert at the Wilson Hall at Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois

Park Plaza Senior Living Community, Chicago, IL

Members of ensemble Barynya Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, garmoshka, vocals), dancer Serhiy Tsyganok provided 1 hour performance on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018 at the Park Plaza Jewish Senior Living Community, 6840 North Sacramento Ave, Chicago, IL 60645.

Ensemble Barynya, Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Park Plaza Senior Living Community, Chicago, IL
Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Park Plaza Senior Living Community, Chicago

Concert series for schools and libraries sponsored by Russian Kvas Beverages

Russian Federation based Kvas Beverage Company sponsored several concerts of ensemble Barynya in schools, colleges and adult care centers. Some of the show took place at Des Plaines Public library, Hunting Ridge Elementary School, Booth Tarkington Elementary School, Holy Cross Elementary School, Devonshire Elementary School, Highland Elementary School, Edgar Allan Poe Elementary School, and other places.

Mikhail Smirnov, dancers Anya, Alexey, ensemble Barynya concert in Chicago, IllinoisMikhail Smirnov, dancer Anya and Alexey Maltsev, ensemble Barynya concert in Chicago, Illinois

Russian wedding at the Tirnanog, Lake Villa, Illinois

Russian DJ Barnaul, balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina and MC-Tamada Mikhail Smirnov provided music and entertainment for the wedding at The Tirnanog, 38276 North Deep Lake Road, Lake Villa, IL 60046 on Friday, September 3rd, 2010.

Russian wedding at the Tirnanog, Lake Villa, Illinois
Russian wedding at the Tirnanog, Lake Villa, Illinois

Russian Balalaika Duo at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois

Balalaika Duo (Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov) performed 1 hour concert during the Passport Europe Festival in Morton Arboretum (Lisle, Illinois) on Sunday, September 24, 2017. The program of performance included Sabre Dance from "Gayane" by Aram Khachaturian, "Fiddler On The Roof" Medley, "Two guitars", Csardas by Vittorio Monti, Paganini's Caprice No. 24, "The Gypsy Trail" (Мохнатый шмель), Rondo Alla Turca (Turkish March) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, "Dark Eyes", Polonaise No. 13 in A minor, "Pozegnanie Ojczyzny" (Farewell to the Fatherland) by Michal Oginski, "Those Were The Days", J.S. Bach - Suite No. 2 - Badinerie (Joke), Pidmanula (Ты ж мэнэ пiдманула), Waltz for Jazz Orchestra No. 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich, Светит месяц - The Moon Is Shining Brightly, Waltz "Babochka" by V. Andreev, Felt Boots (Валенки), Variations on a Theme of Corelli in the Style of Tartini. Composer, Kreisler, Fritz, Iced House (Потолок ледяной, дверь скрипучая), Dr. Zhivago's Somewhere, My Love (Lara's Theme), and other selections. Elina also performed Russian dance "Metelitsa" (The Snowstorm).

Russian Balalaika Duo, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois
Russian Balalaika Duo, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois

Thursday Night Out World Music Concert Series in Downtown Oak Park

Trio Barynya performed on Thursday, July 09, 2015, from 7 to 9pm at the Downtown Oak Park, 1010 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois during the Thursday Night Out World Music Concert Series in Downtown Oak Park, www.downtownoakpark.net. Barynya Balalaika Trio cast: Leonid Bruk (balalaika-contrabass), Elina Karokhina ( balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, garmoshka, vocals) presented two hours performance that included Russian, Cossack, Siberian, Gypsy, Ukrainian, Jewish music and songs, and also classical and popular repertoire.

Thursday Night Out World Music Concert Series, Downtown Oak Park, Leonid Bruk, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov
Thursday Night Out World Music Concert Series, Downtown Oak Park

Multicultural school assembly at the Jefferson Elementary School, Princeton, IL

Russian song, dance and music ensemble Barynya performed in Princeton, Illinois on March 19th, 2014. Multicultural school assembly program took place at the Jefferson Elementary School, 724 W. Putnam, Princeton, IL 61356. Students and teachers spent 45 minutes of their Wednesday afternoon learning about Russian culture through songs, music, dance and language. Artistic director/founder Mikhail Smirnov played the garmoshka, a Russian-style diatonic button accordion and guitar. Dancer Alisch presented Russian, Gypsy, Cossack, Andizhan, Jewish Wedding Bottle dance, and the dance of "Russian Bear". Musical director of the group Elina Karokhina played the balalaika, a three-stringed, triangular instrument, performed Russian folk dance "Metelitsa" (The Snowstorm, Russian: «Метелица»), Russian Gypsy Roma dance "Kay One" ("Where Are They"), and Russian traditional dance "Kalinka" (Russian: «Калинка»).

Multicultural school assembly, Jefferson Elementary School, Princeton, IL , Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, dancer Aleesher
Jefferson Elementary School, Princeton, IL, Elina Karokhina, M.Smirnov, dancer Aleesher

Russian wedding at the Russian Tea Time restaurant in Chicago

Mikhail Smirnov provided DJ and MC tamada services as well as dancers of Barynya ensemble to entertain guests of mixed Russian-American wedding at the Russian Tea Time restaurant in Chicago on Saturday, September 10th, 2011.

Russian wedding at the Russian Tea Time restaurant in Chicago
Russian wedding at the Russian Tea Time restaurant in Chicago

Multicultural school assemblies in Quincy, Illinois

Russian song, dance and music ensemble Barynya performed several shows in schools of Quincy, Illinois in March 2014. Performances took place at St.Francis Solanus School (1720 College Ave, Quincy, IL 62301), St. Dominic School (4100 Columbus Rd, Quincy, IL 62305), and Blessed Sacrament School (1115 S. 7th Street, Quincy, IL 62301).

Multicultural school assemblies, Quincy, Illinois
Multicultural school assemblies in Quincy, Illinois

 

01-29-2013. School assembly at Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest, Illinois

On Tuesday, January 29, 2013 Olena, Elina and Mikhail performed 45 min school assembly show at the Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest, Illinois.

01-29-2013, Tuesday January 29 2013, Oak Forest High School, Oak Forest, Illinois, Mikhail Smirnov, Olena Malinina, Elina Karokhina, Russian dancers, Russian musicians, Russian singers, Balalaika, Garmoshka, Russian music, Russian dances, Russian songs, Ensemble Barynya, Barynya Trio, Multicultural School Assembly
School assembly at Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest, Illinois on 01-29-2013

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CONTACT INFORMATION / Email: msmirnov@yahoo.com / Phone: (201) 981-2497

 
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