Russian music and dance Duo consisted of Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals) and Elina Karokhina (balalaika) performed one hour concert of traditional music, songs and dances for kids and adults in Cape Coral, Florida on Tuesday, June 14, 2016. The performance started at 2PM at the Cape Coral Lee County Public Library. Exact address: 921 S.W. 39th Terrace, Cape Coral, FL 33914.
Program of performance:
01. Siberian Nanai Tribe Sumo Wrestling Dance «Борьба Нанайских мальчиков»
02. "Saturday Affair", Russian folk song.
03. "The Snowstorm" (Russian: «Метелица» - Metelitsa), Russian folk song and dance
04. "Kamarinskaiya" («Камаринская»), introduction of Russian folk instrument balalaika
05. "Skorogovorkee" («Скороговорки»), Medley of Russian tongue-twisters
06. "Dark Eyes" («Очи Чёрные»), Russian Gypsy Roma song and dance
07. Waltz "The Buttefly («Babochka») written by V.V. Andreev. Balalaika solo.
08. "The Peddlers", Russian folk song
09. Jewish wedding dance with Candle ("Evreiskiy Tanets", «Еврейский танец со свечкой»)
10. "Russian Alphabet", short lesson of Russian language.
11. "You Tricked Me" («Пидманула»), Ukrainian folk song and dance
12. "Barynya", Russian folk dance lesson and workshop for all students («Урок русского народного танца»).
13. "Chardash", balalaika solo (instrumental)
14. "The Moon is Shining Brightly", dance of Russian Bear
Russian ethnomusicologist, singer, musician, Artistic Director and Founder of Barynya ensemble Mikhail Smirnov led 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 and several dance numbers.
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 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 six concerts at the Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Both Elina Karokhina and Mikhail Smirnov are members of Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya (established in 1991). The 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.
Green Cove Springs Branch Clay County Library, Green Cove Springs, Florida, December 12, 2019
On Thursday, December 12th, 2019 two members of Russian song, dance, and music ensemble Barynya provided one hour performance at the Green Cove Springs Branch of Clay County Library system. Exact address: 403 Ferris St, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. Program started at 6:30pm. Artistic director, singer, garmoshka, and guitar player Mikhail Smirnov announced every number of the show in English. The performance was titled "From Russia With Love - Songs, Music, and Dances Of Old Russia" and included Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Russian Jewish, and Russian Roma Gypsy songs, music, and dances. All instrumental numbers were performed on the traditional Russian instruments balalaika and garmoshka. Music selections included Russian folk song and dance "The Snowstorm" (Вдоль по улице метелица метёт), "Kalinka" (Калинка-малинка моя), "Long Road" (Дорогой длинною), "Two Guitars", "Meadowlands", Andreev's Waltz "Daydreams", Russian folk song and dance "Kamarinskaya" (Камаринская), "Somewhere My Love" from "Dr. Zhivago" movie (Тема Лары из фильма Доктор Живаго), "The Moon Is Shining Brightly" (Светит месяц), "The Peddlers" (Коробейники), "Ural Mountains Dance", "Angry Husband", Russian Jewish Wedding Dance (Еврейский свадебный танец со свечкой), "Dark Eyes" (Очи чёрные), "Gypsy Roma Medley", Shostakovich's Waltz #2, "Valenki" (Felt Boots), Ukrainian folk song and dance "You Tricked Me" (Пiдманула), Russian Tongue Twister song «Шёл я яром, шёл я низом», "Sabre Dance" from "Gayane" by Aram Khachaturian (Танец с саблями Хачатуряна), "Csardas" by Vittorio Monti (Чардаш Монти), ВАЛЬС ДЮРАН (solo by balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina), Russian folk dance Barynya (Барыня), Russian table song "Maroz" (Ой, мороз, мороз), and other selections. After the show Mikhail and Elina took some photos with kids and adults who attended the program.
Balalaika Duo performance at the public library in Punta Gorda, Florida
Two members of Barynya ensemble performed one hour show at the Punta Gorda Library, 401 Shreve Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950. Performers: Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, vocals, guitar), Elina Karokhina (balalaika, dancer, vocals). The program took place on Saturday, December 14th, 2019 at 1pm.
Russian DJ Elina and MC Mikhail provided music and entertainment in Weston, Florida during private party on December 31st, 2025. Диджей Элина и ведущий торжеств (тамада) Михаил развлекали публику на юбилее в городе Уэстон, штат Флорида в новогоднюю ночь 31-ого декабря 2025-ого года.
DJ Alisa, MC Mikhail and balalaika virtuoso Elina provided music and entertainment for wedding at the Bonaventure Resort Spa, 250 Raquet Club Rd, Weston, Florida 33326 on Friday, January 4th, 2019.
09-02-2018, Hollywood Eden Regal Ballroom & Catering, Hollywood, Florida
DJ Alisa and MC Mikhail provided music and entertainment for wedding at the Temple Sinai of Hollywood Eden Regal Ballroom & Catering on September 2nd, 2018.
06-04-2016. Fort Harrison Hotel, Clearwater, Florida
A program of traditional Gypsy (Romani) songs, instrumental numbers and dances in Clearwater, Florida. Performance took place on Saturday, June 4th, 2016 from 7:30-9pm at the World Headquarters of the Church of Scientology in Fort Harrison Hotel, 210 S Ft Harrison Ave, Clearwater, FL 33756.
Ded Moroz, Snegurochka, live music, DJ, dance show provided for corporate event in Miami, Florida. More then 100 people attended party at Siberian Floors Miami office located at 6191 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138.
06-06-2015, Beach House Memories, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Russian speaking Wedding Minister, DJ and Tamada Mikhail performed a wedding ceremony, provided music and entertainment in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The wedding ceremony took place on the beach in front of Beach House Memories.
10-26-2014, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Bilingual Russian-English speaking Wedding Master of Ceremonies (MC), DJ, and tamada Mikhail provided entertainment in both Russian and English languages for mixed Russian-American couple during wedding reception on October 26, 2014 at the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
05-09-2013, Tapestry Park Community House, Panama City Beach, Florida
Bilingual Russian-English speaking Wedding Officiant, Master of Ceremonies (MC), DJ, and tamada Mikhail provided entertainment in Russian and English for mixed Russian-American couple during wedding reception at the Tapestry Park Community House in Panama City Beach, Florida on May 9th, 2013.
