Starting on March 15th, 2020 due to the Covid-19 virus musicians, singers and dancers of ensemble Barynya are providing virtual concerts for schools, libraries, festivals, and other venues. Performances are live-streamed via Zoom, Facebook Live, YouTube.com, and sometimes other types of media as per client's requests.
Russian dancers, singers, musicians, balalaika, garmoshka, Q&A, virtual performance for schools in Texas
On Thursday May 14th, 2020 the company called "Musical Bridges Around the World" produced a virtual "Kids to Concerts" Assembly for 46 participating schools to end the spring semester. Mayor of San Antonio, Texas Ron Nirenberg introduced the concert and local teachers welcomed their students. Singers, dancer, and musicians of ensemble Barynya presented a colorful performance with Russian music, dance, instruments, and culture. Cast of ensemble Barynya included dancer Konstantin Tulinov, dancer Elina Notkina, balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina, and artistic director Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals). A live Q&A session with Barynya, schoolchildren and their teachers followed the performance.
REFERENCES
"I just want to say that the Live Streaming turned out great! That was a great idea and my students loved it!"
-Mrs. Garcia, Palo Alto Elementary
"The performance today was absolutely FANTASTIC! It was incredibly well done, and just a wonderful way to spend the afternoon."
-Ms. Short, Bulverde Creek Elementary
"Thank you for putting together the virtual concert! The program was great. I'm glad I could share this resource with my kids."
-Mr. Phillips, Murnin Elementary
PROGRAM OF PERFORMANCE
01. Mikhail Smirnov introduces the Barynya concert
01a. Introduction for Russian folk dance "Barynya"
01b. "Barynya" Russian dance
02. Introduction to Russian folk instrument "Balalaika" with song "Angry Husband"
03. Introduction to Jewish Candle Dance
03a. Jewish Wedding dance with the Candle
04. Introduction to Garmoshka - Russian Accordion with Russian folksong "The Peddlers"
05. Introduction to Cossack Dance
05a. Don River Cossacks dance "By The Field"
06. Introduction to Russian folk instrument Balalaika-Contrabass with the song "The Moon Is Shining Brightly"
07. Introduction to Tatar dance
07a. "Kubaliak", national dance of Tatar people from Kazan' region of Tatarstan (part of Russia)
08. Russian Tongue Twister "Natalia" performed by Mikhail Smirnov
09. Introduction to the Bottle dance
09a. "Bottle dance" - world famous Jewish Bottle Dance from "The Fiddler On The Roof"
10. Introduction to Valenki, Russian folk song.
"Valenki" (Felt Boots or Woolen Boots) - instrumental, balalaika solo Elina Karokhina
11. Introduction to "The Snowstorm" dance
11a. "The Snowstorm" (Metelitsa), Russian Khorovod dance
12. Introduction to "Kamarinskaiya"
12a. "Kamarinskaiya" - instrumental, balalaika solo Elina Karokhina
13. Introduction to "Pidmanula" (Ukrainian)
13a. Ukrainian folk dance and song "Pidmanula" (You Tricked Me)
14. Introduction to "Sabre Dance"
14a. Khachaturian's "Sabre Dance" - instrumental, balalaika solo Elina Karokhina
15. Introduction to Moldavian dance "Hora Jog"
15a. "Hora Jog", Moldavian traditional dance
Tuesday, December 1st, 2020. Virtual performances for Musical Bridges Around the World "Facebook Live for Giving Tuesday" event
On Tuesday, December 1st, 2020 Elina Karokhina (balalaika) and Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals) provided brief virtual performance for Musical Bridges Around the World Facebook Live for Giving Tuesday! Mission to support and bring multicultural performing and visual arts in San Antonio, Texas and beyond. Musicians performed two Russian winter songs and answered a few questions.
11-11-2020. Virtual showcase for the Southeastern Wisconsin Library Youth Services
On Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Alisa Egorova, Vladimir Nikitin performed a virtual performance-showcase for Southeastern Wisconsin Library Youth Services. 10 min demonstation included Russian folk dance Kalinka, Russian dance Metelitsa, Ukrainian dance Pidmanula and other selections. SEWI Youth Services Performers’ Showcase 2020 happened online via Zoom Webinar. Library staffs from Arrowhead, Bridges, Kenosha County, Lakeshores, Milwaukee County and Monarch Library Systems registered at no cost. This program was sponsored by the Southeastern Wisconsin public library systems: Arrowhead Library System, Bridges Library System, Kenosha County Library System, Lakeshores Library System, Milwaukee County Federated Library System and Monarch Library System.
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.
07-30-2020. Virtual performance for the Stoughton Public Library in Massachusetts
On Thursday, July 30th, 2020 starting at 2pm ensemble Barynya presented one hour concert for the Stoughton Public Library, 84 Park St., Stoughton, MA 02072. Phone: 781-344-2711. The program was titled "BARYNYA. From Russia With Love. Music, songs, and dances of old Russia".
Monday, July 6th, 2020, 6pm. Virtual performance for public library in Pennsylvania
On Monday, July 6th, 2020 starting at 6pm Russian dance, song and music ensemble Barynya presented one hour concert for a public library in Penssylvania. Program was broadcast via Zoom Application, FaceBook Live and on YouTube website. About 150 people watched the performance. Dancer Konstantin Tulinov, siner and Russian garmoshka player Mikhail Smirnov, balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina, dancer Elena Notkina were in the cast of Barynya ensemble on that day. Mikhail Smirnov (Artistic director and founder of ensemble Barynya) provided explanation about songs, dances, costumes and Russian culture before each number of the show.
Virtual performance for the Westmoreland Library Network in Pennsylvania
On Monday, June 22nd, 2020 starting at 6pm Russian dance and music ensemble provided virtual performance for the Westmoreland Library Network with Russian dancing, songs, and music. Barynya presented 1 hour performance titled "BARYNYA, From Russia With Love. Music, songs, and dances of old Russia". Program included Russian, Tatar, Cossack, Moldavian, Ukrainian, Russian Jewish, Russian Gypsy Roma traditional dancing, music, songs, and virtuoso performances on musical instruments including the balalaika, garmoshka (Russian folk button accordion) and balalaika contrabass. Cast of performers: dancer Konstantin Tulinov, Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka), Elina Karokhina (balalaika), dancer Elena Notkina.
