Russian song, dance and music trio Barynya performed multicultural school assembly program in
Cincinnati, Ohio on Wednesday, October 30, 2013.
Performance took place at the Cardinal Pacelli School, 927 Ellison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226 at 8:30AM.
Students and teachers spent 45 minutes of their
Wednesday morning
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. Artistic director/founder
Mikhail Smirnov played the garmoshka, a Russian-style button accordion.
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 (POZHALUYSTA) and goodbye 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»,
"Russian Tongue Twisters" presentation «Русские скороговорки»,
"Pidmanula" Ukrainian traditional song and dance «Ти ж мене підманула».
VIDEO
Russian Siberian Nanai Wrestling Dance, Cardinal Pacelli School
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.
PHOTOS
Russian dance and music trio Barynya: Mikhail, Elina, and Gosha
08-14-2026, wedding at the Jefferson Country Club in Blacklick, Ohio
Mixed Russian-American wedding at the Jefferson Country Club, 7271 Jefferson Meadows Dr, Blacklick, OH 43004 on Friday, August 14, 2026. Ceremony, cocktails, reception, DJ Elina, MC-Tamada Mikhail. Wedding ceremony. Ведущий торжеств и официальный регистратор свадебных церемоний (лицензия от штата Огайо) Михаил Смирнов и диджей Элина Карохина провели свадебное торжество в красивом зале гольф-клуба городка Блэклик в штате Огайо (Southern Jefferson Township, Franklin County, Ohio, United States).
09-14-2024, St. George Festival, Russian Orthodox Church, Loveland, Ohio
On Saturday, September 14th, 2024 from 11am to 10pm dancers, singers, and musicians of ensemble Barynya - dancer Viktoriia Lazareva, dancer Tara Kuhl, dancer/singer Valentina Kvasova, mandolin, domra and balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina, and Mikhail Smirnov (artistic director, garmoshka, guitar, vocals) performed five shows during an Annual St. George Russian Festival on the grounds of St. George Russian Orthodox Church in Loveland, Ohio. Exact address: St. George Russian Orthodox Church, 118 N Lebanon Rd, Loveland, OH 45140. Dancers performed Russian, Tatar, Gypsy, Ukrainian, Irish, Moldavian, and classical ballet in different sets of beautiful stage costumes.
Dancer Alisa Egorova, balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina, and Mikhail Smirnov (singer, button accorion-garmoshka player) at the St. George Festival 2023 in Loveland, Ohio on the grounds of St. George Russian Orthodox Church, 118 N Lebanon Rd, Loveland, OH.
06-17-2016, Mallard Cove Senior Living Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Concert for seniors in Cincinnati, Ohio on Friday, June 17th, 2016. Performance took place at the dining room of Mallard Cove Senior Living Center, 1410 Mallard Cove Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45246.
11-18-2015, Summit Academy Community School, Warren, Ohio
Barynya Balalaika Duo performed a 45 min school assembly concert on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at the Summit Academy Community School, 2106 Arbor Avenue SE, Warren, OH 44484 on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at 1pm.
Mikhail Smirnov and Elina Karokhina performed a 45 min school assembly concert on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at the St. Anthony's School, 80 E York St, Akron, OH 44310.
07-08-2015, Sheraton Suites Akron Cuyahoga Falls, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Trio Barynya (Leonid Bruk (balalaika-contrabass), Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Smirnov (guitar, garmoshka, vocals) presented one hour program at the Sheraton Suites Akron in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio during the Balalaika and Domra Association of America annual convention.
01-17-2013, Royal View Elementary School, N. Royalton, Ohio
Thursday, January 17th, 2013 at 2:15pm dancer Olena, musician Elina, and singer Mikhail performed 45 min school assembly show at the Royal View Elementary School in North Royalton, Ohio.
Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya (Artistic Director/Founder Mikhail Smirnov) performed in Lakeside, Ohio at the Hoover Auditorium (119 W 3rd St, Lakeside Marblehead, OH 43440) on July 17th, 2007.
all photos and videos from St. George Festival
