Fort Worth, Texas, TX, Russian dancers, musicians, singers, balalaika, costumed characters, multicultural school assembly
Russian song, dance and music ensemble Barynya performed in Crowley, Texas on November 8, 2013 at 1:30PM during multicultural school assembly program at the Deer Creek Elem School, 805 S Crowley Rd, Crowley, TX 76036.
Students and teachers spent 45 minutes of their
Friday afternoon
learning about Russian culture through songs, music, dance and language.
Musical director of the group Elina Karokhina played the balalaika, a three-stringed, triangular instrument, performed Russian folk dance "Metelitsa" (The Snowstorm), Russian Gypsy Roma dance "Dark Eyes", and Ukrainian traditional song "Pidmanula" (You Tricked Me).
Artistic director/founder Mikhail Smirnov played the garmoshka, a Russian-style diatonic button accordion and guitar.
Dancer Gosha presented Russian, Ukrainian, Siberian, and Gypsy dances including "Siberian Nanai Wrestling dance", "Chicken Dance", and the dance of "Russian Bear".
In between playing songs on their instruments, singing songs, and dancing traditional numbers to the music, Mikhail Smirnov shared a little bit of the Russian language with the students. He taught them phrases such as "Thank You" (SPASIBO), "Hello" (ZDRAVSTVUITE), "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 a couple of Russian percussion instruments.
The program of Multicultural School Assembly performance included
"Subbotyea" (Saturday Affair), Russian traditional table song «Субботея» with accompaniment of garmoshka,
"Kamarinskaya", Instrumental solo Russian dance «Камаринская» performed on guitar and balalaika,
"Siberian Nania Wrestling" dance «Борьба нанайских мальчиков»,
"The Snowstorm" Khorovod song and dance «Метелица»,
"The Peddlers" Russian folk song «Коробейники»,
"Kalinka" Russian folk dance «Калинка»,
"Amazing Balalaika" Medley «Волшебная балалайка»,
"Russian Chicken" dance «Танец маленьких утят»,
"Russian dance Workshop" interactive lesson «Урок Русского танца»,
"Russian Alphabet" interactive lesson «Урок Русского языка»,
"Where Are They?" Gypsy Roma song and dance «Кай-Йёне»,
"Chardash" balalaika instrumental solo «Чардаш»,
"Russian Bear" dance «Танец Медведя»,
"Russian Percussian Orchestra" interactive game «Оркестр Русских ударных инструментов»,
"Pidmanula" Ukrainian traditional song and dance «Ти ж мене підманула».
Established in 1991, ensemble Barynya presents Russian, Cossack and Jewish traditional dancing and music on instruments including the balalaika, balalaika contrabass, guitar and garmoshka. Barynya has been invited to perform at some of the most prestigious cultural venues in the U.S., including Carnegie Hall, the Smithsonian, the United Nations and the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Ensemble 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.
In March 2020 Barynya ensemble performed twelve shows at schools in San Antonio, Texas. Cast of performers included dancer/singer Valentina Kvasova, musician/singer Mikhail Smirnov and dancer Serhiy Tsyganok. Program of performances included Russian, Ukrainian, Cossack, Gypsy and Jewish songs and dances with accompaniment of Russian folk button accordion garmoshka. The tour was made possible by Musical Bridges Around the World, organization that introduces the best and brightest artistic talent from across the globe to inspire audiences with dynamic, unparalleled excellence in the performing arts.
List of schools where performances took place:
Monday, March 2nd, 2020, 8:30am. Price Elementary school, 245 Price Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78211
Monday, March 2nd, 2020, 9:45am. Five Palms Elementary school, 245 Price Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78211
Monday, March 2nd, 2020, 1:45pm. Hutchins Elementary School, 1919 W Hutchins Pl, San Antonio, TX 78224
Tuesday, March 3, 2020, 8:30am. Benavidez Elementary School, 8340 Interstate 35 Access Road, San Antonio, TX 78224
Tuesday, March 3, 2020, 10:00am. Athens Elementary School, 2707 W. Gerald. San Antonio, TX 78211
Tuesday, March 3, 2020, 1:10pm. Kindred Elementary school, 7811 Kindred St, San Antonio, TX 78224
Tuesday, March 3, 2020, 2:05pm. Palo Alto Elementary School, 1725 Palo Alto Rd. San Antonio, TX 78211
Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 8:00am. SST Discovery School, 5707 Bandera Rd. Leon Valley, TX 78238
Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 1:00pm. Kriewald Elementary School, 10355 Kriewald Rd., San Antonio, TX 78245
Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 2:15pm. Southwest Elementary School, 11914 Dragon Lane, Bldg. 1000., San Antonio, TX 78252
Thursday, March 5, 2020, 8:30am. JT Brakenbridge School, 1214 Guadalupe St., San Antonio, TX 78207
Thursday, March 5, 2020, 1:30pm. Devine Intermediate School, 900 Atkins Ave., Devine, TX 78016
12-01-2020. Virtual performance for Musical Bridges Around the World "Facebook Live for Giving Tuesday" event in San Antonio
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.