This New York based Duo consists of two performers.
Cossack dancer and singer Valentina Kvasova was born in Rostov-Na-Donu, Russia. Folk singer and musician Mikhail Smirnov was born in Moscow, Russia. He plays garmoshka (Russian folk button accordion), balalaika, gusli, contrabass balalaika and guitar. Duo is available for arts in education programs, concerts, media appearances, private parties, special events, theme engagements, weddings and other events.
Monday, April 7, 2008, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA video
The Russian Department at Dickinson College (Carlisle, Pennsylvania) hosted its annual Russian dinner on Monday, April 7 2008. The dinner featured traditional Russian food and a performance by ensemble Barynya Russian folk singers and dancers: Valentina Kvasova, Mikhail Smirnov, and Alexey Maltsev.
Russian dance and music duo photos
click on pictures above to view high resolution photos
Duo offers program of Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, and Gypsy folk songs, traditional dances including "Kalinka", "Moscow Nights", "Katyusha", "Dorogoi Dlinnoyu", "Gori-gori", "Korobushka", "Dark Eyes", "Polyushko", "Pidmanula", "Kazachok", "Varen'ka", "Maty", "Two Guitars", "Metelitsa", "Barynya" and many many more. Total lenght of the program is about two hours.
Duo has extended repertoire, family oriented program, explanation of the musical and dance numbers in English.
Over 15 years experience of professional performances for audinces of all ages in the United States of America, always on-time, easy communication via phone or email, each dance number performed in defferent costume that matches the region of Russia where the song or dance was originated.
Each dance performed in a new set of costumes: Moscow region, North Sea, Cossack, Ukrainian, Russian Gypsy, Volga River, Siberian, and Boyarsky.
VALENTINA KVASOVA
Valentina with famous American Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff
Valentina Kvasova was born in the city of Rostov-na-Donu, Cossack's Capital of Russia, on August 25, 1976. After finishing of the formal education in Voronezh Choreographic School in 1994 she has been invited to The Don Cossacks State Academic Song and Dance Ensemble as the actress of ballet. Professional skills and great talent let Valentina join the concert program in a short period of time and soon to become soloist of the ensemble.
Valentina successfully performed with The Don Cossacks in Russia, Japan, Spain, Hungary, the republic of South Africa, the USA and other countries.
Valentina on the stage performing with the Don Cossacks of Rostov
As a professional Russian folk dancer Valentina Kvasova equally manages roles of lyrical, playful or comic characters. The dynamical, bright, sociable, talented person, Valentina is having recognition among professionals.
Valentina is also performing as a freelance dancer with other companies and solo.
MIKHAIL SMIRNOV
Mikhail Smirnov is a professional Russian folk singer, performer and musician with many years of experience. I play garmoshka, balalaika, guitar, jaleika, kugikly, contrabass balalaika, balalaika bass and gusli. His specialty is traditional Russian folk music and songs from various regions of Russia.
As a student of Moscow State University of Culture and Arts Mikhail went to many different parts of Russia such as Tver, Smolensk and Belgorod to collect Russian folklore. In folklore expeditions Mr. Smirnov have recorded over 100 hours of Russian folk songs, tunes, and lyrics.
WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY
Beltsville Recreation council, Beltsville Community center
3900 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705, May, 2006
Barynya - Russian folk music and dance ensemble from New York established in 1991. Russian, Tsygansky (Russian Gypsy Roma), Cossack, Ukrainian traditional dances, songs, virtuoso performances on musical instruments (balalaika, garmoshka, bayan, domra, balalaika-contrabass) with explanation of the program in English. Artistic Director Mikhail Smirnov.
Russian traditional music and song ensemble from Los Angeles, California has built a reputation as a unique, dynamic and accomplished group performing on traditional Russian instruments: the domra, the balalaika, and the bayan. The quartet's repertoire ranges from traditional Russian and Eastern European songs, to well known classics and contemporary works. Artistic Director Vadym Khavrun.
Chicago Cossacks - Russian music and song ensemble from Chicago, Illinois
New York Balalaika Orchestra is usually invited to play at Russian Orthodox weddings, fundraising balls, large scale social events, presentations, Doctor Zhivago's style corporate parties in New York Tri-State area
VIA ROMEN - Russian Gypsy Roma traditional music and dance ensemble . Artistic director Vadim Kolpakov.
RUSSIAN BAND specialty is Gypsy, Ukrainian, Russian music and songs. All RUSSIAN BAND members are top professionals with many years of experience. Choice of Gypsy, Ukrainian, Russian (2 different sets) and Cossack costumes. Extended repertoire. Formal concert, background music or music for dancing party. Our main instruments are balalaika, domra, drums, garmoshka (Russian button accordion), Gypsy guitar, classic guitar, contrabass balalaika, cello and vocals. Travel with own pro-quality sound system.
Russian Balalaika duo from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Alex Siniavski - balalaika, Mikhail Smirnov - guitar, garmoshka, vocals
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Vasily Romany Gypsy Band -
New York based Tsygansky (Russian Gypsy Roma) music and dance show.
Artistic Director Vasily Romani (Yankovich).
Tsygane - Russian Gypsy Roma dance, music, song ensemble New York City
Tum Balalaika - Russian, Jewish, Ukranian, Gypsy band from Chicago, Illinois
Russian Dance & Music Duo from New York performs in traditional costumes. Program of Russian Cossack Ukrainian and Tsygansky (Russian Gypsy Roma) folk songs, music and dances. Affordable prices. Duo is available for Arts in education programs, concerts, convention promotions, media appearances, private parties, special events, theme engagements, weddings, etc.
Brooklyn Balalaikas -Russian Folk Music Trio from Brooklyn, New York. Artistic Director Leonid Bruk.
Cossack Spirit - Cossack song, music and dance trio from New York founded by dancer and singer Valentina Kvasova, singer Victoria Pichurova and Russian button accordion virtuoso Victor Danilochkin in 2007. Ensemble performs Cossack folk music, songs and dances. All members of the group are highly trained in former USSR performers.
Old Red Wine - Klezmer, Yiddish, Russian dixieland band from Brooklyn, New York. Artistic Director Shlomo Leiderman.
Kalinka Duo - Sergey Vashchenko- balalaika, Vladimir Kaliazine- bayan, Austin, TX
Zabava - Russian folk ethnographic group from Saratov, Russia
Timofeyev and Kolpakov Russian Gypsy 7-string guitar duo performs traditional music, songs and dances of the Russian Roma (Gypsy) tradition, ancient Gypsy melodies, heartfelt lyrical romansy, accompanied by the Russian Gypsy 7-string guitars. Oleg Timofeyev holds an M.A. in Early Music Performance from the University of Southern California (1993), and a Ph.D. in Performance Practice from Duke University (1999). Lead guitarist and artist of the Moscow Gypsy Theater Romen, Vadim Kolpakov has been steeped in the tradition from childhood, plays the Russian 7- string guitar, sings and dances.
The Internationals World Music Ensemble from Chicago, Illinois plays Russian, Italian, Jewish, Ukrainian, Cossack, Gypsy, American oldies, and classical music from all around the world. Flexible structure depending on the clients' needs.
Piques Dames - Russian singers from New York City is a group of talented, classically trained musicians that perform in the New York metropolitan area at musical festivals, weddings, radio shows private and corporate events. Their repertoire includes a variety of Slavic and European Classical and Folk vocal music as well as compositions from operatic and sacred classics.
NEW YORK RUSSIAN DANCE AND MUSIC TRIO - Russian, Cossacks, Ukrainian and Gypsy dances, music and songs. Authentic instruments: garmoshka, balalaika, gusli.
Different set of costumes for each dance.
Duo offers program of Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, and Gypsy folk songs, traditional dances including "Kalinka", "Moscow Nights", "Katyusha", "Dorogoi Dlinnoyu", "Gori-gori", "Korobushka", "Dark Eyes", "Polyushko", "Pidmanula", "Kazachok", "Varen'ka", "Maty", "Two Guitars", "Metelitsa", "Barynya" and many many more. Total lenght of the program is about two hours.
