Morgantown, WV, West Virginia. Russian dancers, musicians, singers, balalaika, garmoshka, costumed characters

Russian traditional dance, song, and music trio Barynya performed at the Mountainlair Student Union of West Virginia University, 1550 University Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26506 on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 9:00PM and 11PM.

Students and outside guests spent 45 minutes of their Saturday evening learning about Russian culture through songs, music, dance and language. Musical director of the group Elina Karokhina played the balalaika, a three-stringed, triangular instrument. Artistic director/founder Mikhail Smirnov played the garmoshka, a Russian-style button accordion. Dancer Gosha presented Russian, Ukrainian, Siberian, and Gypsy dances including Siberian Nanai Wrestling dance, "Chicken Dance", and the dance of "Russian Bear". 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 (POZHALUYSTA) and goodbye 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. Almost in the end 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.

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

The program of Multicultural School Assembly performance included "Father Frost", Russian traditional table song «Ой, мороз-мороз» with accompaniment of garmoshka, "Kamarinskaya", Instrumental solo Russian dance «Камаринская» performed on guitar and balalaika, "Siberian Nania Wrestling" dance «Борьба нанайских мальчиков», "The Snowstorm" song and dance «Метелица», "The Peddlers" Russian folk song «Коробейники», "Kalinka" Russian folk dance «Калинка», "Amazing Balalaika" medley «соло на балалайке», "Russian Chicken" dance «Танец маленьких утят», "Russian dance Workshop" interactive lesson «Урок русского танца», "Russian Alphabet" interactive lesson «Урок русского языка», "Where Are They?" Gypsy Roma song and dance «Кай Ёне», "Chardash" balalaika instrumental solo «Чардаш», "Russian Bear" dance «Танец медведя», "Russian Percussian Orchestra" interactive game «Оркестр русских ударных инструментов», "Russian Tongue Twisters" presentation «Русские скороговорки», "Pidmanula" Ukrainian traditional song and dance «Ти ж мене підманула».

VIDEOS

Russian Dancers in West Virginia University, Mountainlair Student Union

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Mountainlair Student Union, West Virginia University, Nanaisky Wrestling Dance

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Mountainlair Student Union, West Virginia University, Russian Bear Dance

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Mountainlair Student Union, West Virginia University, Russian Chicken Dance

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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.

PHOTOS

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

Balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina plays Russian folk song "Kamarinskaia"

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Russian Wrestling Dance

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Russian Khorovod Dance "Metelitsa" (The Snowstorm)

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Russian Gypsy Dance "Dve Gitary" (Two Guitars)

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Mikhail Smirnov plays his garmoshka and sings Russian folk song "Moroz-Moros"

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

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

 
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