Placerville, California. Russian, Ukrainian, Cossack, Gypsy, Jewish dancers. Balalaika, Garmoshka, Dance, Song and Music Trio. Multicultural school assembly

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Russian dance, song and music ensemble Barynya performed 45 min concert in Placerville, California. The show took place at the Gold Oak Elementary School (3171 Pleasant Valley Road, Placerville, CA 95667) on Thursday, November 9th, 2017 at 1:30pm. Cast of performers included garmoshka and guitar player, MC and singer Mikhail Smirnov, Ukrainian-Cossack dancer Serhiy Tsyganok, and balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina.
 
Ensemble Barynya is available for hire for Performing Art Centers, school assemblies, festivals, colleges, universities, libraries, concert halls, restaurants, private and corporate events as one powerful ensemble or in smaller groups.

Contact information: phone/text: (201) 981-2497 / email msmirnov@yahoo.com

Gold Oak Elementary School, Placerville, California
Gold Oak Elementary School, Placerville, California
click the image above to see full size high-resolution photo

The program of the assembly included Russian traditional dance "Barynya", Russian folk button accordion garmoshka (Russian: Гармошка) introduction with traditional Russian song "Saturday Affair" ("Subboteya"), Russian traditional Khorovod song and dance "The Snowstorm" (Russian: "Метелица"), introduction of the Russian traditional string instrument balalaika (instrumental solo of folk tune "Kamarinskaiya" (Russian: "Камаринская"), Cossack marching song and dance "Pri Luzhke", Russian Jewish wedding dance with Candles ("Свечка"), Jewish Bottle dance from the "Fiddler Of The Roof", Russian Roma (Romani) Gypsy song and dance "Dark Eyes" (Russian: Очи чёрные - Цыганский), Russian Tongue-Twisters Medley (Russian: "Скороговорки"), Waltz "The Butterfly" by Vasily Andreev ("Бабочка"), Russian folk song "Husband Forsed Me" ("Как заставил меня муж"), Felt Boots ("Валенки"), Ukrainian folk song and dance "Pidmanula" - "You Tricked Me" ("Украинский"), "Sabre Dance" ("Танец с саблями"), Russian folk dance "Kalinka" (Russian: Калинка), and other selections.

Gold Oak Elementary School, Placerville, California
Gold Oak Elementary School, Placerville, California
click the image above to see full size high-resolution photo

Artistic director/founder Mikhail Smirnov played the garmoshka, a Russian-style diatonic button accordion and guitar. In between numbers of the show Mikhail shared a little bit of the Russian language with the students. He taught them phrases such as "Thank You" (SPASEEBA), "Hello" (ZDRASTVUITE), "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. 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 moves of Russian dance BARYNYA.

Gold Oak Elementary School, Placerville, California
Gold Oak Elementary School, Placerville, California
click the image above to see full size high-resolution photo

ABOUT PERFORMERS:
Dancer Serhiy Tsyganok was born in L'viv, Ukraine in 1982. He started dancing with kids' folk dance ensemble "Iskorka" under direction of his mother Liliya Yurievna Tsyganok. In 1996 he started dancing with teens' traditional Ukrainian dancer troupe "Karpaty" under direction of Honored Artist of Ukraine Mihailo Vanivsky. From 1997 through 2002 he stadied dancing and choreography at the L'viv State College of The Culture and Arts. Graduated in 2002. At the same time as he was a student at the L'viv State College of The Culture and Arts he was dancing with Jewish Dance Ensemble "MAZAL TOV" and Polish Dance Troupe "L'vovyatsy". With "MAZAL TOV" and "L'VOVYATSY" groups Serhiy performed locally in Ukraine, and internationally. In 2003 he graduated with Diploma of completion special training in Polish Traditional dancing from Lyublin's University of Maria Skladovsky in Poland. In 2003 Serhiy joined dance troupe to work 18 months contract with the show Sharm L Sheikh in Egypt. In 2006-2012 he was performing with various dance projects in Turkey, Israel and Dubai. In 2013 he started working as a dancer on cruise ships all over the world. In the summer 2014 Serhiy made his home in the United States of America. He started working with various Ukrainian groups, dance and music ensemble Barynya, Moscow Gypsy Army, Can-Can Cabaret Dance Show, and others. Serhiy speaks Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, and English.

Gold Oak Elementary School, Placerville, California
Gold Oak Elementary School, Placerville, California
click the image above to see full size high-resolution photo

Balalaika virtuoso 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. She 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. As a balalaika soloist Elina has toured all over the world. 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 famous Russian 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 six concerts at the Carnegie Hall in New York City as a part of "THE TRIUMPH OF HOPE" international event. In September 2016 he appeared at the Carnegie Hall again as a part of "Moscow Gypsy Army" representing rich musical culture of Eastern Europian Roma people. In January 2017 Elina was hired to play Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh" Suite at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. with the National Symphony Orchestra. All four performances were under direction of world-famous conductor Sir Mark Elder. Recently Elina was invited to perform as a Honored Guest Artist at the Balalaika and Domra Association of America 40th Jubilee Convention that will be taking place in Philadelphia in July 2018.

Gold Oak Elementary School, Placerville, California
Gold Oak Elementary School, Placerville, California
click the image above to see full size high-resolution photo

Singer, musician, garmoshka, and guitar player Mikhail Smirnov was born in Moscow, Russia. 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.

VIDEOS

Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Gypsy dances, Tongue-Twisters, balalaika solo, song with garmoshka, etc
watch this video on www.youtube.com website

Jewish Bottle Dance, Jewish Wedding Dance with Candle

watch this video on www.youtube.com website

Russian dance workshop with students

Elina Karokhina and Mikhail Smirnov are doing Russian dance workshop with students
Russian dance workshop, Elina Karokhina, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, Photo by Jaycie Chesser
Russian dance workshop, Elina Karokhina, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, Photo by Jaycie Chesser

Serhiy Tsyganok and MIkhail Smirnov performing Ukrainian folk song and dance "Pidmanula" (You Tricked Me)

Serhiy Tsyganok, Mikhail Smirnov, Ukrainian folk song and dance, Pidmanula, You Tricked Me, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser Serhiy Tsyganok, Mikhail Smirnov, Ukrainian folk song and dance, Pidmanula, You Tricked Me, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser Serhiy Tsyganok, Mikhail Smirnov, Ukrainian folk song and dance, Pidmanula, You Tricked Me, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser
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Dancer Serhiy Tsyganok performing Jewish Bottle Dance

Serhiy Tsyganok, Jewish Bottle Dance, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser
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Elina Karokhina performing Jewish Wedding Dance

Elina Karokhina, Jewish Wedding Dance, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser Elina Karokhina, Jewish Wedding Dance, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser Elina Karokhina, Jewish Wedding Dance, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser
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Serhiy Tsyganok performing Russian Cossack dance

Serhiy Tsyganok, Cossack Dance, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser Serhiy Tsyganok, Cossack Dance, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser
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Elina Karokhina performing Russian Wedding Dance "Metelitsa" (The Snowstorm).

Elina Karokhina, Russian Wedding Dance, Metelitsa, The Snowstorm, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser
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Elina Karokhina (balalaika) and Mikhail Smirnov (guitar) performing Russian traditional song "Kamarinskaiya"

Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (guitar), Russian traditional song, Kamarinskaiya, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (guitar), Russian traditional song, Kamarinskaiya, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser
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Dancer Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina (balalaika), and Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka) performing Russian traditional song and dance "Kalinka"

Dancer Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka), Russian traditional song and dance, Kalinka, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser Dancer Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka), Russian traditional song and dance, Kalinka, Sixth Grade Academy, Lovington, New Mexico, photo by Jaycie Chesser
click on images above to see full size high-resolution photos

REFERENCES

“The group was excellent. They did some interaction with the students. Music was great!”
   Mary Kay Hennessy, Principal @ St. Norbert School in Paoli, PA
 
“This group was great! The students were all engaged and really enjoyed the show. They arrived on time and were very professional.”
   Liz Legere, PTO @ Cherry Brook Primary School in Canton, CT
 
“Very engaging and flexible with time because of our buses.”
   Michele Rowland, Asst. Principal @ Rodgers Forge Elementary in Baltimore, MD
 
“Very entertaining. A nice mix of traditional Russian music and dance with colorful costumes/traditional dress. The students learned some basic Russian vocabulary words too.”
   Heather Jeanne, Principal @ Enadia Technology Charter School in West Hills, CA

Dancer Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka)
Mikhail Smirnov, Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina, Park View Elementary School, Ripon, California
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Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov
Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov
click the image above to see full size high-resolution photo

Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Barynya Russian School Assembly Trio
Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Barynya Russian School Assembly Trio
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Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Barynya Russian School Assembly Trio
Serhiy Tsyganok, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Barynya Russian School Assembly Trio
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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 for the students of the Evergreen Elementary School, San Jose, California. Exact address of the school: 3010 Fowler Rd, San Jose, CA 95135. Forty five 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.

Russian dance, music, song ensemble Barynya, Artistic Director Mikhail Smirnov, 11-05-2020, Thursday, November 5th, 2020, Virtual performances, Evergreen Elementary School, San Jose, California
11-05-2020, Evergreen Elementary School, San Jose, California

CONTACT INFORMATION

Phone/text: (201) 981-2497 / email msmirnov@yahoo.com

RELATED LINKS

Bilingual Russian MC tamada entertainment and DJ services in California: Birthday party in Los Angeles, Wedding at the Royal Palace Banquet Hall in Glendale, Russian-American wedding at the Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. Dancers, musicians, and singers of Barynya ensemble in Alameda, California (CA), Altadena, CA (2013), Altadena, CA (2017), Belmont, CA, Сamarillo, CA, Сeres, CA, Chatsworth, CA, Coalinga, CA, Corcoran, CA, Crescent City, CA, El Monte, CA, Farmersville, CA, Fresno, CA, Georgetown, CA, Hanford, CA, Happy Camp, CA, Hayward, CA, Hidden Valley Lake, CA, Hillsborough, CA, Kenwood, CA, Lincoln, CA, Lomarica, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Los Gatos, CA, Los Gatos-2019, Meadow Vista, CA, Mendota, CA, Moreno Valley, CA, Oceanside, CA, Oxnard, CA, Pasadena, CA, Placerville, CA, Port Hueneme, CA, Poway, CA, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Ripon, CA, Roseville, CA, Sacramento, CA, Salida, CA, San Jose, CA, San Leandro, CA, San Mateo, CA, Santa Ana, CA, Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Rosa, CA, Seiad Valley, CA, Spring Valley, CA, Sun Valley, CA, Sunnyvale, CA, Temecula, CA, Thousand Oaks, CA (2013), Thousand Oaks, CA (2017), Tracy, CA, Turlock, CA, Ukiah, CA, Walnut Creek, CA, West Hills, CA, Windsor, CA, Yreka, CA, Yuba City, CA

Contact information: phone/text: (201) 981-2497 / email msmirnov@yahoo.com

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