The Balalaika Russe - Russian balalaika band photos and storySince its inception in the early 1970's, the BALALAIKA RUSSE has grown in popularity and proficiency and was considered the finest ensemble of its kind in the USA. This colorful sextet has performed from Washington to Maine and Europe, at such venues as society balls and affairs, at local church halls, outdoor concerts and festivals, weddings, club dates, and on the concert stage. "The Balalaika Russe" was the preferred band of the Russian nobility emigre society, performing at such functions as the Petrouchka Ball, the Nobility Ball, the Theological Ball, and at the Tolstoy Society. The members all come from the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Balalaika Russe photo![]() Photo by Martin Koenig, 1986 The Balalaika Russe members
![]() Gari Nova with Barynya Balalaika Orchestra, Petroushka Ball, 2006, The Pierre Hotel, New York City BILL MELICK (prima balalaika), leader of the Balalaika Russe, has got his exposure to balalaika music from his family, who owned several Russian restaurants in New York City. His performance in Khovanshchina (the Mussorgsky opera, Eve Quiler conducting) with the New York Symphony Orchestra, highlights a long career of club, stage and television appearances throughout the United States and Europe. STEPHEN M. WOLOWNIK (July 22, 1946) - (May 18, 2000) was a pioneer in the Russian and Eastern European music community in the United States. He was a co-founder of the Balalaika and Domra Association of America. Born in Chester, Pennsylvania, Wolownik grew up with Russian and Ukrainian music. As a child and young adult, he participated in the balalaika orchestra at St. Nicholas's Russian Orthodox Church in Philadelphia under the tutelage of Paul Kauriga of the Kovriga Balalaika Orchestra. He also played under Anastasia Karnow... read more ![]() click to view bigger image
ALEXANDER ALEXANDROVICH (prima domra), as lead player, made a
tremendous contribution to the group's distinctive sound.
His devotion to Russian music has made him one of the finest prima domra players in the country.
GARY NOVA with Russian balalaika band "The Balalaika Russe" Picture taken at Gary Nova's Festival by Mikhail Smirnov
The Balalaika Russe album "Heart On The Snow"
Dedication of Steve Wolownik’s Garden
RUSSIAN FOLK
| Russian entertainment database
| Russian balalaika band "The Balalaika Russe"
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| Lina Karokhina - balalaika virtuoso from Boston, MA. |
| Alex Siniavski balalaika and Gypsy guitar virtuoso from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. |
| New York Balalaika Orchestra performs at Russian Orthodox weddings, fundraising balls, large scale social events, Doctor Zhivago's style corporate parties. |
| Russian Balalaika Duo: Alex Siniavski and Mikhail Smirnov with program of Russian, Ukrainian, Gypsy, Cossack, Klezmer, and international music and songs performed on balalaika, garmoshka and guitars. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. |
| Chicago Cossacks - Russian music and song ensemble from Illinois. |
| Brooklyn Balalaikas - Russian Folk Music Trio from Brooklyn, New York. Artistic Director Leonid Bruk. |
| 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. |
| Old Red Wine - Klezmer, Yiddish, Russian dixieland band from Brooklyn, New York. Artistic Director Shlomo Leiderman. |
| 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. |
| Balalaika Russian Dance and Music Trio - Russian Cossack dance, balalaika and garmoshka music from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Russian Balalaika and Garmoshka Duo - Sasha Resitor-balalaika, Mikhail Smirnov - guitar, garmoshka. |
| Sasha (Alexander) Ressetar - Balalaika virtuoso from Harrisburg, PA. |
| Balalaika prime Simon Lemberskiy from Brooklyn, New York. |
| Balalaika virtuoso Lev Zabeginsky from New York City. |
| Balalaika Contrabass player Leonid Bruk from Brooklyn, New York. |
| New York Balalaika Duo - balalaika player Lev Zabeginsky and Mikhail Smirnov (vocals, garmoshka, guitar). |
| Kalinka Duo - Sergey Vashchenko-balalaika, Vladimir Kaliazine-bayan from Austin, TX. |
| Balalaika virtuoso Sergey Vashchenko from Austin, TX. |
| Balalaika Stooges. |
| Brighton Beach Menestrels. |
| The Balalaika Russe - Russian balalaika band photos and story. |
| Tum Balalaika - Russian, Jewish, Ukranian, Gypsy band from Chicago, Illinois. |
RELATED LINKS
Balalaika Balalayka Балалайка
Russian folk music free MP3 download
Free Russian Balalaika Ringtones
Free Russian sheet music
Russian costumes
Russian lyrics, Russian songs translations into English
Russian folk
Russian music
DOMRA
History of Russian balalaika
Balalaika made in 1887
Balalaika handmade in Moscow, Russia
Contrabass Balalaika and Bass Balalaika
Balalaika Contrabass Buying Guide
Christmas Diary of the balalaika player
Russian American Wedding or balalaika scam
Russian music album "What a Balalaika!" by Nikita Siniy
Barynya Russian Entertainment database
Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya from New York
New York balalaika orchestra
Russian Band from New York
Russian Balalaika duo from Philadelphia, Pennsilvania
Russian Balalaika and Garmoshka Duo
Balalaika Dance Trio, Philadelphia, PA
Brooklyn Balalaikas
The Balalaika Russe
Russian music duo from Chicago, Illinois
Balalaika Stooges
Kalinka Duo: balalaika and bayan from Austin, TX
Alex Siniavski - Balalaika virtuoso from Philadelphia, PA
Lev Zabeginsky - New York balalaika virtuoso
Sasha Ressetar - balalaika player from Harrisburg, PA
Simon Lemberskiy - balalaika player from Brooklyn, New York
Contrabass Balalaika player Leonid Bruk
Sergey Vashchenko - Balalaika virtuoso from Austin, TX
Balalaika tutorial DVD by Alex Siniavski
Balalaika Virtuoso Bibs Ekkel
Russian Christmas Music Balalaika Album
Balalaika music album "Barynya Russian folk songs"
The Balalaika and Domra Association of America
BDAA 2007 Festival of Russian Music
The Balalaika and Domra Association of America 2006 photos
BDAA 2005 conference in Madison, Wisconsin video
BDAA 2005 conference in Madison, Wisconsin photos
School of playing balalaika contrabass (in Russian)
Aleksandr Nikitich Rozhkov (in Russian)
How to play tremolo on balalaika (in Russian)
Американско-Русская свадьба или как обмануть балалаечника

First official record of Russian dancing is related to year 907 when Great Russian Prince Oleg (Vechshiy Oleg) celebrated his victory over Greeks in Kiev. During the Gala Dinner 16 male dancers dressed as bears and four bears dressed as Russian dancers performed for the guests. After the dinner was over Great Prince commanded to release the bears into the wild and to execute all the dancers.
As it became clear later on, Vechshiy Oleg, who was purblind, has mistaken the dancers for the ambassadors from the Northern Tribes (Severyane) who owned him a few hundred skins of marten - Russian tiger-cat...
read full article
Legendary Russian Gypsy singer Zhenia Shevchenko and ensemble Barynya DVD. Concert was recorded in New York City on January 26, 2008. Fifteen performers: six dancers, three singers, six musicians. Performers: Sergey Ryabtsev - violin, Mikhail Smirnov - garmoshka, vocal, guitar, Alex Siniavski - Gypsy guitar, balalaika, Alexander Menshikov - Russian Gypsy singer, tambourine, Leonid Bruk - balalaika-contrabass, Gennady Gutkin - bayan, Lev Zabeginsky - balalaika, Andrij Cybyk - dancer, choreographer, Ganna Makarova - dancer, Olga Chpitalnaia - dancer, Vitaliy Verterich - dancer, choreographer, Valentina Kvasova - dancer, singer, Mikhail Nesterenko - dancer, Victoria Pichurova - singer, Gabriel Yakubov - Gypsy dancer. Musical instruments: Balalaika, garmoshka, bayan, violin, balalaika-contrabass, Gypsy guitar, Russian 7 string guitar. Program of Russian Gypsy songs, music, Russian, Gypsy, Cossack and Ukrainian folk dancing... more info, video samples, order
This DVD was recorded at live performance of Russian music and dance ensemble Barynya (Artistic Director/Founder Mikhail Smirnov) in Lakeside, Ohio at the Hoover Auditorium in July 2007. List of performers: Mikhail Smirnov - vocal, garmoshka, guitar , Alex Siniavski - balalaika, Gypsy guitar, musical director , Andrij Cybyk - dancer, choreographer , Valentina Kvasova - dance captain, dancer , Leonid Bruk - balalaika contrabass , Alexander Menshikov - singer, tambourine , Victoria Pichurova - singer , Natalia Ejova - dancer , Natia Rtveliashvili - dancer , Stefan Kuziw - dancer , Alex Sizov - dancer.... more info, videoclips, order
This DVD is from live performance of Russian dance, song and music ensemble Barynya from the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin in October 2006. PROGRAM: Russian, Gypsy, Cossack, Ukrainian traditional dances, folk and popular songs, virtuoso performances on musical instruments with explanation of the program in English. INSTRUMENTS: balalaika, garmoshka, contrabass, buben, Gypsy and classic guitars... more info, videoclips, order
New York based Russian folk dance and music ensemble Barynya, 2004. Russian folk dances, songs, virtuoso performances on balalaika, bass-balalaika and garmoshka. Runtime: 1 hour, cover art: Anna Nagorskaya
more info, videoclips, order
Ensemble Barynya, 1998. Live performance in cabaret "Moscow", Lexington Ave/54 street, New York City. Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Klezmer music and dances. Runtime: about 35 minutes.
more info, videoclips, order
Runtime: 60 minutes. On this DVD ensemble Barynya dancers are performing Russian, Cossack, Gypsy and Ukranian folk dances including "Kalinka", "Katyusha", "Barynya", "Two Guitars" and others. more info, videoclips, order
Russian, Russian Gypsy, Russian Cossack, Ukrainian, Russian Siberian stage costumes for professional performances made by Russian costumes designer Svetlana Gavrilova.... see pictures
| Barynya - Russian music, song and dance ensemble from New York is a unique group of top soloists: musicians, singers and dancers who were trained and performed with Don Cossacks of Rostov, Andreev State symphonic balalaika orchestra, Moscow State center of "Russian Song" |
| The Russian Collection Dance Ensemble from San Francisco, California provides a selection of thrilling and colorful Russian folk dancing, enchanting Russian folk music, and Russian magical illusions. Group was founded in 1945 and has performed in Europe, Asia, North and South America |
| Revival - Russian dance ensemble from Toronto Canada is available in Canada and the United States of America to provide live entertainment for corporate events, parties, weddings, and all other events. Artistic Director Ekaterina Kornienkova |
| Canary dance ensemble from Los Angeles, California performs Russian, Moldovan, Ukrainian, Gypsy, Armenian and Jewish folk traditional dances |
| Russian traditional dance and music program NY, NJ, CT, PA, MD designed for smaller budget venues with limites space for the dancing. 3 dancers, 1 musician perform Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Siberian folk dances, songs and music... more Russian dance ensembles |
Father Frost and Snow Maiden are the most important characters of the New Year's celebration in Russia. Father Frost (Ded Moroz, Russian: Дед Мороз) plays a role similar to that of Santa Claus. The literal translation of the name would be "Grandfather Frost". However, English-speakers traditionally translate "DED MOROZ" as the alliterative "FATHER FROST". Ded Moroz is always accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka - Snow Maiden (Russian: Снегурочка).
![]() Father Frost and Snow Maiden - Ded Moroz and Snegurochka in New York City - photos |
| Russian Gypsy and popular songs singer Alexander Menshikov from Cliffside Park, New Jersey performs with his Russian Wedding Band 5GRAND.US, ensemble Barynya or solo. He studied singing at The Gnesin's Academy in Moscow, Russia. |
| Acclaimed Russian Jewish singer and actor from New York Yakov Yavno |
| Piques Dames perform in the New York metropolitan area. Their repertoire includes a variety of Slavic and European Classical and Folk vocal music as well as compositions from operatic and sacred classics. |
| Singer, keyboard player, MC Yury Mitchenko is available in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania |
| Russian opera singer Lyudmila Fesenko, New York. |
| Russian, Gypsy, Jewish, Italian and American singer Sergei Pobedinski from New York City, USA |
| Russian folk singer Irina Zagornova from New York, USA |
| Classical Russian Gypsy singer Vasily Yankovich was named the best Tsygansky (Russian Roma Gypsy) singer in the United States. Available in New York, New Jersey and internationally. |
| Gypsy Roma singer and dancer, 7-string guitar virtuoso Vadim Kolpakov |
| Honored performers of Russia Svetlana Smirnova and Yury Selivanov from Moscow, Russia |
| Russian folk singer and garmoshka player Mikhail Smirnov from Fort Lee, New Jersey performs authentic Russian folk songs and tongue twisters. |
| Russian folk singer Nina Selivanova from Moscow, Russia |
| Russian, Ukrainian and Gypsy singer Nikolai Massenkoff from San Francisco, California |
| Russian folk singer Tanya Matveeva from Moscow, Russia |
| Russian singer Marina Zhuravleva from Calgary, Canada |
| Russian classical singer (Bass) Vladimir Loginov from New York City. He is a profesional singer of the Bass solo parts in operas. He can also perform Russian, Ukrainian, Gypsy and international repertoire. Vladimir Loginov helds a Master's degree from Moscow State Conservatory named after P. Tchaikovsky (Vocal Department). |
| Russian bayan player, singer and actor Vitali Baganov from New York City, New York, USA |
| Russian Cossack singer and dancer Valentina Kvasova from New York, USA |
| Ukrainian singer, musician from San Fransisco, California Nina Tritenichenko |
| Russian folk singer Natalia Demidova from New York |
| Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian and Gypsy folk singer Victoria Pichurova from Brooklyn, New York, USA |
| Russian singer Elena Harris from Grand Forks, Idaho, USA |
| Gypsy singer Svetlana Yankovsky from Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Russian singer, Bass-baritone Alexander Prokhorov from Boston, Massachusetts was born in Russia. Now he lives in Boston, where he is engaged as one of the performing artists with Boston University's Opera Institute. Alexander has been described as a "true deep bass with tones, that immediately astonished with their midnight-dark, chasm depth of richness and powerful timber..." |
| Russian singer (bass-barytone) Boris Kletinich from Montreal, Canada was graduated from the University of Theater Art and Film of Moscow (Russia). During his military service, he was soloist of the Air Force Orchestra and Chorus of the Red Army. Boris can sing different musical forms: Russian popular and love songs, rock and love ballad, the jazz, the popular writings of Broadway, the Jewish and Latin America songs, arias of opera. |
| Legendary Russian Gypsy singer Zhenya Shevchenko from New York City, USA |
| Russian singer Zarina Maliti from Moscow, Russia |
| 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. |
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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 |
| Russian Gypsy Guitar Violin Duo from New York, New York performs Russian, Gypsy, Ukrainian, Moldovian, Hungarian music and songs. Sergei Pobedinski - guitar, vocals, Valeriy Zhmud - violin. |
| 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 |
| Nina and Isaac Danchenko - Gypsy Violin Duo from Brooklyn, New York |
| 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 price. 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. |
| Svetlana Smirnova and Yury Selivanov - Honored performers of Russia - Moscow, Russia |
| 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. |
![]() | Russian traditional dance and music program NY, NJ, CT, PA, MD designed for smaller budget venues with limites space for the dancing. 3 dancers, 1 musician. |
| Russian Brides - Cossack song and dance duo from Brooklyn, New York. |
| Tryn-Trava - Russian Folk group from Saint Petersburg, Russia. |
| Ukrainian Cossack dancers of New York founded in New York City by Ukrainian choreographer, teacher and dancer Andrij Cybyk in 2007. |
| Balalaika Russian Dance and Music Trio - Russian Cossack dance, balalaika and garmoshka music from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 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. |
| Cossack music and dance trio from Brooklyn, New York |
| Russian song ensemble SVETOCH |
![]() Balalaika alto for sale |

Russian Christmas Music Balalaika Album

Balalaika virtuoso Alex Siniavski and Mikhail Smirnov (guitar)
![]() Russian balalaika polyphonic ringtones free download |

Bibs Ekkel: Russian Gypsy Music Balalaika album
![]() CATERING SERVICES |

Lev Zabeginsky plays Music Of The World on Russian Balalaika
![]() New York Jewish dancers |
![]() Free Russian sheet music |
![]() Gypsy fortune teller, Russian Bear Violinist virtuoso, Nanaisky Wrestling Kids, Dancing Worm available in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, nationwide |
![]() Russian DJs and MCs for hire in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, California, Nevada, Vermont, Massachusetts |
![]() Russian European American Music Wedding and Party Band NY NJ CT |
![]() Ukrainian Cossack dancers from New York |
![]() Barynya is the best Russian dance and music ensemble outside of Russia (New York, USA). Russian, Gypsy, Cossack, Ukrasinian dances, songs and music with live accompaniment of balalaika, domra, garmoshka, Gypsy guitar, bayan and contrabass balalaika |
![]() Tsygane - Gypsy Roma dance and music show |
![]() weddings, special events. NYC, NY, NJ, CT, PA, other states |
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