Russian Balalaika and Garmoshka Music and Song Duo performed a concert on Friday, March 23rd, 2018 during Anna Petrovna’s 100th Birthday Celebration at the John H. Whitaker Place, 30 Borough Road, Penacook, NH.
The program of performance included favorite Russian and Russian Gypsy songs and music: Russian folk accordion ÃÀÐÌÎØÊÀ introduction with popular folk song "Kalinka" (Êàëèíêà-Ìàëèíêà), introduction of Russian folk instrument Balalaika with performance of Russian folk song ÊÀÌÀÐÈÍÑÊÀß (Kamarinskaiya),
popular Russian Gypsy Roma song Long Road, Gypsy Medley, Korobushka, and other selections.
About Elina Karokhina, the balalaika virtuoso, dancer:
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 St. Petersburg State 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".
About Mikhail Smirnov, garmoshka and guitar player, vocalist:
Mikhail Smirnov was born in Moscow, Russia. He has been in the business of Russian folk dance and music for more than 25 years. 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, ensemble "Moskoviya" under the direction of Valeriy Kuz'mich Nesterov. 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.
Sandwich Central Elementary School, Center Sandwich, NH, March 2018
Russian-Gypsy singer and seven-string Russian guitar player Vasily Romani, singer, garmoshka and guitar player Mikhail Smirnov and dancer Ukrainian Cossack dancer Serhiy Tsyganok performed 45 min concert on Monday, March 5th, 2018, 8:30am at the Sandwich Central Elementary School, 28 Squam Lake Road, Center Sandwich, NH 03227.
Program of performance included Russian folk song with garmoshka Subboteya (ÃÀÐÌÎØÊÀ ÑÓÁÁÎÒÅß), Russian folk dance BARYNYA, Russian song KATYUSHA
, COSSACK DANCE, solo on Russian seven string guitar by Vasily "VENGERKA" (ÂÅÍÃÅÐÊÀ), Jewish BOTTLE DANCE, dance of Russian Bear (ÒÀÍÅÖ ÌÅÄÂÅÄÜ), Russian song "My darling" (ÆÈÂ¨Ò MÎß ÎÒÐÀÄÀ), Ukrainian folk song and dance PIDMANULA, Russian Tongue-Twister (ÑÊÎÐÎÃÎÂÎÐÊÀ), RUSSIAN ALPHABET LESSON, Russian folk song "KOROBUSHKA" with the percussian ORCHESTRA consisted of students, Russian folk DANCE LESSON, Russian folk dance KALINKA.
Kingswood Regional Middle School, 404 S Main St, Wolfeboro, NH, November 2nd, 2015
Russian Balalaika Music and Dance Duo (Elina Karokhina and Mikhail Smirnov) performed a school assembly concert on Monday, November 2nd, 2015 at the Kingswood Regional Middle School, 404 S Main St, Wolfeboro, NH 03894. Principal showed members of the company to the impressive performing art center where the performance took place at 1PM. About 350 students attended the program.
Sandwich Central Elementary School, Center Sandwich, NH, September 26, 2012
Dancers, musicians, and singers of Russian traditional dance, song and music ensemble Barynya presented a program of Russian, Ukrainian, Cossack, Siberian, Bashkir, Nanai, Jewish, and Gypsy songs, music and dances on Wednesday, September 26th, 2012 at the Sandwich Central Elementary School, 28 Squam Lake Road, Center Sandwich, NH 03227. Cast: Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals), Erik Davletbaev (dancer).