On Tuesday, January 21st, 2020, two dancers and two musicians of Russian dance, song and music ensemble Barynya proided dance and music workshop with questions and answers from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, and formal performance from 12:00PM to 1PM at the Cumberland Hall Auditorium on Fayetteville campus Fayetteville Technical Community College, 2201 Hull Road, Fayetteville, NC 28303. Students learn facts about Russia, and asked questions about Russian Culture and e njoy traditional Russian folk dances, music, and songs performed on garmoshka, and balalaika. Cast: Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Alisa Egorova, Sergey Tsyganok.
Russian dancer, model, actress, and DJ Alisa started to perform with the Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya in 2012. Her first performance took place during the Barynya's "Russian Spectacular" School Assembly Tour 2012-2013. Alisa specializes in Russian, Gypsy, Ukrainian, Siberian, and Cossack dancing. She is also capable of performing the costumed charachters: Russian Bear, Gypsy Fortune Teller, Siberian Nanai Fighters.
About dancer Serhiy Tsyganok:
Ukrainian dancer Sergey Tsyganok was born in 1982 in L'viv, Ukraine. He started dancing at the age of 6. His mother Liliya Yurievna Tsyganok was the artistic director of "Iskorka", largest children's dance ensemble in town. At his mom's group Sergey learned basics of ballet and folk choreography. In 1996 he started to study professional dance and choreography at the L'viv's State College of Culture and Arts and also started dancing with teens' traditional Ukrainian dance troupe "Karpaty" under direction of Honored Artist of Ukraine Mihailo Vanivsky. He graduated from L'viv's State College of Culture and Arts in 2002. During college years he was dancing with Jewish Dance Ensemble "Mazal Tov" and Polish Dance Troupe "L'vovyatsy" performing locally in Ukraine, and internationally. Mr. Tsyganok traveled all over Poland with concert tours. 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 Sergey went to Egypt for a year and a half for a pop-dance contract in the city of Sharm El Shekh. After Egypt there was a contract in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) for one year in a Cabaret show similar to Paris' Moulen Rouge. In 2007 Sergey returned to Ukraine and worked for the famous choreographer Dmitry Kolyadenko. He was dancing and acting in television program "Chance" and doing concert tours in Ukraine. Then he found dance contract in Israel (3 months). In 2008 he started dancing modern choreography in Antalya, Turkey. After Turkey Serhey returned back to Dubai where he was dancing zseven days a week until 2012. After 2012 he joined danc team for about two years on cruise ships going around the world (traveled twice around the globe). 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.
Balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina is number 1 balalaika player in the United States. She was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia and 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. 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 Orchestra Rocks" production. 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. In 2018 Elina was invited to perform as a Honored Guest Artist at the Balalaika and Domra Association of America 40th Jubilee Convention in Philadelphia. In October 2019 Elina was invited to perform during Emirates-Russian Week at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. On January 23rd, 2020 Elina performed Maurice Jarre (arr. Bill Holcombe) “Laura’s Theme” from Dr. Zhivago motion picture during joined concert titled "FROM RUSSIANS WITH LOVE" with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.
Mikhail Smirnov was born in Moscow, Russia. Mikhail is an artistic director and founder of ensemble Barynya, 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. Ensemble Barynya is a world renowned group that enjoys exalting stature as the premier Russian folk ensemble outside of Russia. Under direction of Mr. Smirnov ensemble Barynya has become the most requested Russian dance, song and music show outside of Mother Russia.
PAST PERFORMANCES
05-17-2025, HSNC Cultural Hall, Morrisville, North Carolina
Five dancers performed during World Dance Festival at the HSNC Cultural Hall in Morrisville, North Carolina. Repertoire included Bottle dance (Jewish), Hopak (Ukrainian), Mardzhandzha (Gypsy), and Kalinka (Russian).
10-13-2017, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
Ensemble Barynya performed two concerts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC on Friday, October 13, 2017. Program included Russian folk dance "Kalinka", Ukrainian folk song and dance "Hopak", Cossack song and dance "Varen'ka", Russian traditional dance "Barynya", Russian Jewish wedding dance with candles, Jewish Bottle dance, Russian Roma (Romani) Gypsy song and dance "Mardzhandzha", Russian folk song and dance "The Snowstorm", introduction of the Russian string instrument "BALALAIKA" (instrumental solo of folk melody "Kamarinskaiya", Russian Tongue-Twisters Medley, Russian folk dance lesson, Waltz "The Butterfly" by Vasily Andreev, Russian folk song "Husband Forsed Me", Felt Boots, Sabre Dance, and other selections.
04-26-2016, First Flight Elementary School, Kill Devil Hills, NC
Elina Karokhina and Mikhail Smirnov performed a concert at the First Flight Elementary School on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Program of the show included Siberian Nanai Wrestling Dance "Íàíàåö", Russian folk button accordion "Ãàðìîøêà" introduction with traditional Russian song "Kalinka", The Snowstorm, Russian folk dance ("Ìåòåëèöà"), Kamarinskaiya, Russian folk instrument balalaika introduction ("Êàìàðèíñêàÿ"), Russian Tongue Twisters Medley ("Ñêîðîãîâîðêè"), Jewish wedding dance "Ñâå÷êè", Russian Percussian Orchestra interactive game with students ("Òðåù¸òêè"), Russian Romani Roma Gypsy song and dance ("Öûãàíñêèé"), Russian folk dance lesson ("Óðîê òàíöà"), Ukrainian folk song and dance Pidmanoola ("Óêðàèíñêèé"), instrumental solo "×àðäàø", Russian Bear dance "Ìåäâåäü", and other selections.
04-25-2016, Davidson County Community College, Davie Campus, Mocksville, NC
One hour concert of Russian traditional music, songs and dances for students in Mocksville, North Carolina on Monday, April 25, 2016. Performance started at 12:30PM at the Davidson County Community College, Davie Campus, 1205 S Salisbury Street, Mocksville, NC 27028.
04-22-2016, Estes Elementary School, Asheville, North Carolina
Friday, April 22, 2016, Estes Elementary School, 275 Overlook Rd, Asheville, NC. Program of performance: Siberian Nanai wrestling dance "Bor'ba Nanaiskikh Malchikov",
Russian folk song and dance "Kalinka",
Russian folk song "Moroz",
Russian dance "Metelitsa" ("The Snowstorm"),
Russian folk song "Kamarinskaiya" (balalaika solo, instrumental),
Russian Jewish wedding dance,
Russian tongue-twisters,
Russian Gypsy Balalaika medley and dance,
Russian Alphabet lesson,
Russian percussion band plays "Korobushka" (Peddlers),
Russian dance workshop,
"Chardash" (balalaika solo. instrumetal),
Russian Bear dance.
A school assembly program on September 17th, 2014 at the Kitty Hawk Elementary School, 16 S Dogwood Trail, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949. The program included Nanai wrestling dance, Russian folk song Kalinka, Russian dance "Metelitsa", Kamarinskaiya, Russian tongue-twisters, Russian Chicken dance, Russian Alphabet Lesson, Russian dance workshop, Russian Bear dance.
11-13-2012, New Century International Middle School, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, and dancer Erik Davletbaev performed school aseembly show at the New Century International Middle School in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 10am.
