Ensemble Barynya news and updateshome | news, updates | dancing videos | music videos | costumes | recommendation letters | photos | schedule of upcoming performances | press | program | merchandise | contact Tribeca Film Festival event in Atlantic City, New Jersey, July 2010Dancers Andrei Ivanov and Anna Zinenko in Atlantic City, New Jersey during Tribeca Cinema Series promotional event at the Seasars Atlantic City.
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010, Washington DC
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| Article was printed in December 2009 in "The BDAA Newsletter", the official Journal of the Balalaika and Domra Association of America. |






![]() sponsored by Instituto Chihuahuense de la Cultura, The state of Chihuahua, Mexico. September 18, 2009. CUAUHTEMOC, Chihuahua, Mexico September 19, 2009. MADERA, Chihuahua, Mexico September 20, 2009. NUEVO CASAS GRANDES, Chihuahua, Mexico September 21, 2009. JUAREZ, Chihuahua, Mexico September 22, 2009. CHIHUAHUA, Chihuahua, Mexico September 23, 2009. DELICIAS, Chihuahua, Mexico September 24, 2009. CAMARGO, Chihuahua, Mexico September 25, 2009. JIMENEZ, Chihuahua, Mexico September 26, 2009. PARRAL, Chihuahua, Mexico September 27, 2009. GUACHOCHI, Chihuahua, Mexico Cast: V.Kvasova, O.Yeliseyeva, N.Rtveliashvili, A.Brovkina, A.Anatska, A.Maltsev, A.Rudoy, L.Zabeginsky, A.Menshikov, M.Smirnov. ![]() view all photos from Barynya Tour 2009 in Mexico |




"World On Stage" Dance Festival took place in Stamford, Connecticut on May 2, 2009 at the "Palace Theatre" (61 Atlantic Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06901). Dancers: Valentina Kvasova, Olga Chpitalnaia, Ksenya Hentisz, Sophia Panych, Mikhail Nesterenko, Andrei Kisselev, Aleksey Klyuchnikov, Alexey Maltsev, Alexander Rudoy.

view scan of the article at The Hartford Courant
or read the full article on the newspaper's website www.courant.com
Cast: Vasily Yankovich (singer, seven-stringed Gypsy guitar), Alexander Menshikov (singer, tambourine), Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, vocals), Alex Siniavski (balalaika, Gypsy guitar), Alexandre Tseytlin (violin), Valentina Kvasova (dancer, vocals), Mikhail Nesterenko (dancer, costume characters), Natalia Stolichnaya (dancer).


Ensemble Barynya performance on February 28, 2009 during Russian Winter Festival in Albany, New York. The temperature outside was 24F plus the wind factor. It was REALLY COLD! Performers: Alex Siniavski (guitar) - it was so cold he was afraid to play his balalaika, Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, garmoshka), Alexander Menshikov (vocals, buben), dancer and singer Valentina Kvasova and dancer Alexey Maltsev. We put on all costumes we have had with us that day and it was still very cold...

![]() Watch this video on YouTube | ![]() Watch this video on YouTube |
..."The spirit of the Old Country transplanted to the New -- that's the essence of Barynya... which made a lively stop Sunday at the Community Theatre in Morristown.
Founded and directed by Mikhail Smirnov, a Russian ethnomusicologist who now lives in Cliffside, the troupe is comprised of immigrants from Russia and its satellites, like the former Soviet republic of Ukraine. Yet in the wake of perestroika, the geographic distribution of Cossack dance staples like the "Kazatsky" has come to include parts of Brooklyn, Canada and New Jersey. Although farther out from the Russian sun, the orbits of these lesser moons are apparently fixed.
Smirnov, who narrates the program when he is not squeezing an accordion-like instrument called the garmoshka, seems comfortable with this irony, and he peppers his monologue with witticisms. His audience's propensity to greet the music with rhythmic clapping..." read full article in NJ's "Star Ledger"


Cossack dancers of New York based ensemble Barynya were competing at the SUPERSTARS OF DANCE, international dance competition led by executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance). The show hosted by Michael Flatley (Lord of the Dance) and Susie Castillo, a former Miss USA, premiered on NBC network on January 4th and aired through January 26th, 2009. Dancers
Yaroslaw Dobriansky,
Vasiliy Myshletsov,
Ilia Streltsov,
Aleksey Klyuchnikov,
Danila Sherstobitov,
Alexey Maltsev,
Alexander Rudoy, and
Alex Sizov performed a
Cosssack dance routine choreographed by
Vitaly Verterich. Cossack costumes made by famous Russian folk costumes designer
Svetlana Gavrilova. Artistic Director of Barynya
Mikhail Smirnov was one of eight judges to decide which country will take home the coveted Trophy. Mikhail was not able to vote for Cossack dancers or the Russian team.


Ensemble Barynya performed during diner Gala after the Liberty Medal 2008 was presented to former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev by President George H.W. Bush. Official ceremony took place on Thursday, September 18, 2008 at The National Constitution Center located at 525 Arch St. on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall... letter of recommendation.
Eight Barynya dancers, four musicians and three singers entertained a black-tie dinner for more than 1,000 guests. Audience included President George H. W. Bush, Tom Brokaw, Dikembe Mutumbo and Van Cliburn. Barynya performed both concert music and dance throughout the evening. President's Bush and Gorbachev were thrilled. World known concert pianist Van Cliburn shake hands with the balalaika virtuoso Lev Zabeginsky. MC of the evening, American television journalist Tom Brokaw, used one of our microphones to do the toasts. He was standing next to Barynya musicians on the stage.
Barynya performers: Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals), Alex Siniavski (balalaika, Gypsy guitar), Leonid Bruk (balalaika-contrabass), Lev Zabeginsky (balalaika), Yan Khmel (bayan);
singers: Alexander Menshikov, Irina Zagornova and Diana Bruk;
dancers: Anna Brovkina,
Valentina Kvasova,
Natalia Ejova,
Olga Chpitalnaia,
Andrei Kisselev,
Ilia Pankratov,
Vitaly Verterich and Alexey Maltsev.


In November 2008 dancers Valentina Kvasova, Alexey Maltsev, Alexander Rudoy, Anna Brovkina, and Russian folk singer and musician Mikhail Smirnov performed five concerts at Hazleton, Lehman, Schuykill, Dunmore, and DuBois campuses of Penn State University in Pennsylvania.

Ensemble Barynya Penn State University Tour 2008 (photos)
![]() Barynya midwest tour 2008 album 01 | ![]() Barynya midwest tour 2008 album 02 |



New York City Russian Radio Station City Radio 540AM
Festival of Russian music, dance and culture, May 2008
Brighton Beach Festival of Russian music, dance and culture on May 18th, 2008 was organized by one of New York Russian Radio Stations, CITY RADIO 540AM. Barynya performed in the beginning of the concert. Five dancers and two musicians were on the stage built near the south end of Coney Island Avenue (next to Boardwalk) in Brooklyn, New York. Dancers Valentina Kvasova, Ganna Makarova, Olga Chpitalnaia, Danila Sherstobitov, Alexey Maltsev performed Russian traditional dances "Barynya", "Metelitsa", "Kalinka", "Korobushka", Cossack dance Varenka, and Ukrainian folk dance "Hopak". Mikhail Smirnov was singing and playing garmoshka while Leonid Bruk was burning fingers on his huge balalaika-contrabass.

Concert at Windsor Terrace Public Library 160 East 5th Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11218 on Monday May 12, 2008

click the photo above to see more photos and videos
Monday, April 7, 2008, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA video
It has become a good tradition for Barynya dancers to introduce a new numbers of the program before the Russian Nobility Association in New York City during annual Spring Ball.
Our version of Hopak - Ukraininan folk dance - was introduced for the first time during Russian Nobility Ball 2005. Tsyganskiy (Russian Gypsy Roma) folk dance and song Kai Yone was first seen during RNB-2007.
Russsian Nobility Ball-2008 took place at the Grand Ball Room of the Pierre Hotel (61st Street and 5th Avenue in New York City) on May 9th, 2008. This year we brought our brand new number: English inspired dance of Russian Nobility Danila Cooper.
New set of MATRYOSHKA THEME Russian costumes made by Svetlana Gavrilova was introduced at the end of our program: view "Kalinka-Malinka" video on YouTube.
On December 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31, 2007 from 12PM till 4 PM New York based Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya dancers and musicians were leading a group of Russian Father Frosts and Snow Maidens (Ded Moroz and Snegurochka) to greet New Yorkers and promote new TV Channel "RUSSIA TODAY".



![]() "Kazanka" | ![]() "Nanaysky" |

Mikhail Smirnov, Victoria Pichurova, Valentina Kvasova, Olga Chpitalnaia, Natalia Ejova, Mikhail Nesterenko, Stefan Kuziw, and Roman Lewkowicz photos from Slavic Cultural Festival that took place on September 29, 2007 at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA. Ensemble Barynya shared the stage with the Kazak Family Trio of Belarus, the Bandura Tells of Ukraine, and local organization, the Washington Balalaikas Society Orchestra.

Artistic Director of the Barynya ensemble Mikhail Smirnov was invited to play gusli, balalaika, garmoshka and sing Russian tongue twisters at the FOLKLORAMA 2007 (the largest and longest running multicultural festival of its kind in the world) festival held annualy in Winnipeg, Canada.

Ensemble Barynya was touring the state of OHIO as part of the Ohio Arts Council’s Summer International Music and Performing Arts in Communities Tour (IMPACT). Barynya performed many shows, Russian & Ukrainian dance workshops from July 17 to July 28, 2007. Performance locations included Lakeside, Warren, Marietta, Jackson and Grandview Heights. All performances were free and open to the public.
Ensemble Barynya's singer Alexander Menshikov and Artistic Director and garmoshka player Mikhail Smirnov were invited as guest artists and teachers of Russia Gypsy traditional music to the annual conference of The Balalaika and Domra Association of America. To see pictures from this wonderful Festival of Russian music click the image above.
![]() | ENSEMBLE BARYNYA PERFORMANCE AT THE Lions Clubs International 90th Convention in Chicago, IL at the Hilton Hotel for the Russian Evening Event on Sunday, July 3rd, 2007. On the photo from left to right: dancer Natalia Ejova, Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka), Jim Cox (contrabass), Alex Siniavski (balalaika), and dancer Andrij Cybyk... view full size picture |
One of the final events of the Russian Heritage Festival 2007 was a "Spirits of Russia" evening at the Copacabana Club (560 West 34 Street in Manhattan) on June 27... view pictures

The Russian Nobility Association in America annual Spring Russian Nobility Ball took place at the luxurious "Pierre" Hotel on May 11, 2007 in New York City. Musicians and dancers of New York based Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya (full company) provided music for coctail hour and thirty minute music and dance program during the dinner. "Barynya" performed popular Russian Gypsy pieces: "Two Guitars", "Kay One", "Vingerka", "3 lines", Russian favorite balalaika arrangement "The Moon is shining brightly" and Cossack song and dance "Varen'ka".
Sunday, April 29, 2007 from 8 to 11pm. “Gorodissky & Partners”, Ltd. reception at Fairmont Chicago Hotel, 200 N Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60601. Musicians: M.Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals), Alex Siniavski (balalaika, Gypsy guitar), Stefan Kuziw (tambourine), and Richard Armandi (contrabass)




Ensemble "Barynya" provided music and dancing for the MASLENITSA at the
Embassy of Russia in Washington, DC. It was a long drive from Brooklyn for all Barynya members: dancers Valentina Kvasova and Vitaly Verterich, singer Victoria Pichurova, musicians Alex Siniavski (balalaika, Gypsy guitar), Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar), violinist Alexander Tseytlin and Ruslan Khain (c-bass). Photos from inside of
Embassy of Russia

Ensemble "Barynya" (full company: six dancers and four musicians) performed six shows in Wisconsin. Rouslan Khaine (contrabass and balalaika contrabass) was not able to fly and drove all the way from New York. Final concert took place in wonderful auditorium of John Michael Kohler Arts Center (608 New York Avenue, Sheboygan, WI). Some friends of ensemble Barynya drove for over two hours just to see our performance.






2 min 20 sec Russian Gypsy folk song and dance "Those were the days" video. Folk singer Alexander Menshikov and Russian music ensemble "Barynya" showcase at the booking conference on September 29, 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland. Mikhail Smirnov-guitar, Vadim Kolpakov-Russian Gypsy 7-string guitar, Ruslan Khain - balalaika contrabass, Alex Siniavski-balalaika, Gypsy guitar.
Alexander Menshikov and Mikhail Smirnov are performing as "GYPSY BOYS" at the "Starlight Serenade" concert presented by the Sierra Nevada Balalaika Society at the Bartley Ranch Amphitheater, at 7:30 pm on Saturday, September 2nd. The Sierra Nevada Balalaika Society is dedicated to the perpetuation of music written for the balalaika, domra, and related instruments.
The annual conference of The Balalaika and Domra Association of America took place in Akron, Ohio. Barynya's singer Alexander Menshikov and director Mikhail Smirnov went to Akron, Ohio to teach Russian folk singing and Russian folk chorus and to perform for 160 attendees.. view photos
Eight Barynya Dancers provide Cossack dance with amazing acrobatic tricks at the Pepsi-Cola. In the end of the show we recieved well deserved standing ovation from huge croud of more than a thousand people. view photos
Barynya musicians play aboard World Yacht's " Princess" at Pier 81 (West 41st street at the Hudson River) in New York City at the Russian Children's Welfare Society event "Petroushka on the Hudson".
Barynya musicians are playing at the New York's landmark The Waldorf's Astoria Hotel at the Benefit Concert "Petroushka Ball" for The Annual Fundraiser of the Russian Children’s Welfare Society... more pictures
Barynya performance at the World Champions exhibition and skating event in Locust Valley, New York.
On the picture ensemble Barynya musicians with the gold medalists of the 2004 World Figure Skating Championships in Ice Dancing Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov. From left to right: Tatiana Navka, Mikhail Smirnov, Roman Kostomarov and Alex Siniavski
Buckley Recital Hall at Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts ensemble Barynya invited Legend of Russian immigration Gypsy singer ZHENYA SHEVCHENKO.
Ensemble Barynya entertained lavish party celebrating the American launch of Imperia Vodka with with 100 pounds of caviar and a 10,000-pound ice bar paid for by Russian billionaire Roustam Tariko at the Liberty Island. Scores of glass lanterns hung from the treetop canopy to create an ethereal atmosphere, while Russian belly dancers, fortunetellers, storytellers, and traditional musicians entertained. Later, guests noshed on such decadent Russian delicacies as carved whole roasted sturgeon with dill caviar cream, juniper-scented roast suckling pig, and beef Stroganoff at the dinner buffet. Tentation’s meal was followed by a 20-minute fireworks display by Grucci and a dessert of strawberries and chocolate, as well as an hourlong show from Duran Duran, who performed on a barge just off the island.
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April, 2005
Television and radio commercials recorded for Brooklyn Russian Steam Bath
"Sandoony USA" for New York Russian Radio and TV station VSE in New York
www.radio620am.com
15 seconds MP3 and
30 seconds MP3
February, 2005
When The Best in entertainment business need true Russian flavor they call "Barynya" .
Ensemble participated in
Discovery Channel show "The Party Planner with David Tutera".
The theme of the party was "Doctor Zhivago Russian Palace".
David Tutera impressive client list includes Barbara Walters, the John F. Kennedy Center,
Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Tommy Hilfiger, and film premiere and celebrity parties,
including the 1998 and 2003 official post-Grammy Awards parties in New York.
David is also a regular entertaining expert on ABC's popular morning show The View.

October 28, 2004, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin , MO
Natalia Demidova, Sasha Anchutin and Mikhail Smirnov founded Russian folk song and dance ensemle "Barynya" in November 1991. The first show took place at Russian restaurant "Fyodoroff", Carle Place, Long Island, NY.
The word "Barynya" stands for a fast Russian folk dance. "Barynya" was the first number in the program that was presented by ensemble back in 1991. In old times in Russia the word "Barynya" (Landlady) was used by simple folks as a form of addressing to a woman of higher class. The Barynya dance is an alternation of chastushkas (limericks) and frenetic dancing. The Barynya chastuskas used to have a refrain "Barynya, barynya, sudarynya-barynya", or "Barynya ty moya, sudarynya ty moya". The content is always humoristic. The dancing consists mainly of fancy stomping and traditional Russian squatwork ("prisyadka", "vprisyadku").

Barynya updates on Twitter.com
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CDs, DVDs, GIFTS

2005, Russian Christmas Music Balalaika Album

2005, "Sergey Gusarov". Russian songs and balalaika music CD

2005, Balalaika tutorial on DVD, free on-line balalaika lessons

2004, Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya DVD live in concert

2003, Russian folk dance ensemble "Barynya" DVD, Washington, DC

1995, "Misha and Natasha from Russia" Russian folksongs compact disk

Russian folk ensemble
It's Barynya Time T-shirt

I am shy of my Russian roots T-shirt
| Русские артисты > Фольклорный ансамбль "Барыня" > информация |
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* Русские танцоры, профессиональные певцы
* Виртуозные музыканты, народные инструменты * Балалайка, гармошка, ложки, кугиклы, трещотки, вертушка * Cценические костюмы: сарафаны, рубахи, косоворотки * В программе русские, украинские танцы и народные песни * Виртуозная игра на балалайке * Юмористическое объяснение программы на английском | ![]() обложка CD "Барыни" |
![]() ансамбль Барыня | Наташа и Миша Смирновы основали ансамбль Барыня в 1991 году. Первый концерт состоялся в ресторане "Фёдоров", что в городе Карл Плейс на Лонг Айланде (штат Нью-Йорк). С тех пор "Барыня" приняла участие в более чем тысяче концертов и программ. |
| В самом начале ансамбль Барыня представлял собой всего лишь трио: Миша и Наташа фром Раша и танцор из ансамбля Моисеева Саша. В настоящее время различные талантливые музыканты и танцоры выступают в его составе. | ![]() ансамбль Барыня |
![]() ансамбль Барыня | Продолжительность концерта до 90 минут, в программе около 100 русских и украинских народных танцев и песен. У артистов "Барыни" есть несколько перемен красочных сценических костюмов специально пошитых для выступлений на сцене. Артисты ансамбля - профессионалы из бывшего СССР. |
Артисты ансамбля
| Основатели ансамбля - Русский фольклорный дуэт Миша энд Наташа фром Раша - специалисты по русской народной песенной традиции. Трудно представить себе концерт ансамбля без яркого сопрано Наташи и Мишиной звонкой гармошки. |
![]() Миша & Наташа |
![]() Наташа |
Русская народная певица Наталья Смирнова - выпускница Московского Государственного института культуры по специальности хоровое дирижирование. По окончании работала в Московском Государственном фольклорном центре "Русская Песня" п/у Надежды Бабкиной. Проживает в США с 1991 года. |
| Певец и музыкант Миша Смирнов закончил Московский Государственный институт культуры по специальности хоровое дирижирование. Во время учёбы в институте работал солистом и хормейстером в фольклорном ансамбле Московия (художественный руководитель Валерий Нестеров). По окончании МГИКа работал в фольклорном театре Матаня и затем в Московском государственном центре "Русская песня" п/у Надежды Бабкиной | ![]() Миша |
![]() Алёша |
Балалаешник-виртуоз Алекс Синявский приехал в США в 1992 из Ленинграда, где солировал в знаменитом Академическом Русском народном оркестре им. В.В.Андреева, одном из престижнейших коллективов страны, закончил Ленинградскую консерваторию. |
| Танцовщица Ольга Шпитальная в США с 1992, работала в украинском Государственном ансамбле “Славутич” и в “Государственном ансамбле песни и пляски Черноморского Флота”. Ольга танцует вместе с ансамблем Барыня более пяти лет. | ![]() Ольга |
![]() Виталий |
Танцовщик Виталий Вертерич закончил Московский Государственный институт культуры и Киевскую балетную академию, солировал в знаменитом Бродвейском шоу "РИВЕРДЕНС" и объездил с ним весь мир. |
| Юрий Водолага окончил Киевскую академию классического балета. Работал в Киевском балетном театре и многих других престижнейших коллективах. Окончил консерваторию Римского-Крорсакова в Ленинграде как преподаватель и хореограф. Guest teacher в San Francisco Ballet, Baton Rouge Ballet, Connecticut Ballet и Egelevsky American Theatre Dance. Юрий танцует вместе с ансамблем Барыня более пяти лет. | ![]() Юра |
![]() Ганна |
Танцовщица Ганна Макарова участвовала в шоу Михаила Жванецкого в Москве. Закончила театральный Институт в Москве и Long Island University (New York City). Принимает участие в концертах ансамбля Барыня с 1993 года. |
| Танцор Андрей Сибик закончил University of Akron Conservatory - штат Ohio, Pointe Park College - штат Пенсильвания и учился на Украине, в национальной школе Академического Украинского народного танца Павла Вирского. Андрей также выступает с All Nations Dance Company и Syzokryli Ukrainian Dance Ensemble (Нью-Йорк Сити). | ![]() Андрей |