Russian Balalaika Duo Elina Karokhina (balalaika virtuoso, dancer, vocals, costumed characters) and Mikhail Smirnov (singer, garmoshka, guitar, costumed characters) performed one hour concert of Russian traditional music, songs and dances for students in Mocksville, North Carolina on Monday, April 25, 2016. Performance started at 12:30PM at the Davidson County Community College, Davie Campus, 1205 S Salisbury Street, Mocksville, NC 27028.
01. Siberian Nanai Tribe Sumo Wrestling Dance (Russian: «Борьба Нанайских мальчиков»)
02. "Saturday Affair", Russian folk song "Subboteiya" (Russian: «Субботея»)
03. "The Snowstorm" Russian folk song and dance "Meteleetsa" (Russian: «Метелица»)
04. "Kamarinskaiya" (Russian: «Камаринская»), introduction of Russian folk instrument balalaika
05. "Skorogovorkee" (Russian: «Скороговорки»), Medley of Russian tongue-twisters
06. "Dark Eyes" (Russian: «Очи Чёрные»), Russian Gypsy Roma song and dance
07. "The Buttefly", "Babochka" waltz written by V.V. Andreev. Balalaika solo. (Russian: «Бабочка»)
08. "The Peddlers", Russian folk song (Russian: «Коробейники»)
09. "Evreiskiy Tanets", Jewish wedding dance with Candle (Russian: «Еврейский танец со свечкой»)
10. "Russian Alphabet", short lesson of Russian language.
11. "You Tricked Me" Ukrainian folk song and dance (Russian: «Пидманула»)
12. "Barynya", Russian folk dance lesson and workshop for all students («Урок русского народного танца»)
13. "Chardash", balalaika solo (instrumental)
14. "The Moon is Shining Brightly", dance of Russian Bear
Russian ethnomusicologist, singer, musician, Artistic Director and Founder of Barynya ensemble Mikhail Smirnov led the performance by giving a short explanation of every number of the program in English. He talked briefly about costumes, folk instruments, Russian traditions, explained the difference between Russian and English alphabet, and performed Russian tongue-twisters. Musical director of the group Elina Karokhina performed a few solos on Russian folk instrument balalaika and several dance numbers.
Elina Karokhina was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia. She began her formal training at the Mussorgsky Music College of St. Petersburg and continued her training at N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, earning a degree as an Orchestra Soloist. She continued her training at the Conservatory, which included a brief residency in Germany. After, she returned to her native St. Petersburg and completed her education, earning a Doctor of Musical Art degree in the Balalaika. Following her graduation, she began working as a musician, both as a teacher and as a performer, teaching balalaika. Elina Karokhina served in the Russian Army in the Military Ensemble in the Northwest Order of Red Stars. As a balalaika soloist Elina has toured all over the world. When she moved to the United States in 2009 she was hired as a musicial director and soloist with the biggest professional Russian music, song and dance ensemble Barynya (New York). In January 2015 Elina Karokhina was selected to perform the balalaika part with Mariinsky Theatre directed by world-famous conductor Valery Gergiev in Rodion Shchedrin's opera "The Enchanted Wanderer" at the Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York. In May 2016 she was hired to play six concerts at the Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Both Elina Karokhina and Mikhail Smirnov are members of Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya (established in 1991). The 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.
05-17-2025, HSNC Cultural Hall, Morrisville, North Carolina
Five dancers performed during World Dance Festival at the HSNC Cultural Hall in Morrisville, North Carolina. Repertoire included Bottle dance (Jewish), Hopak (Ukrainian), Mardzhandzha (Gypsy), and Kalinka (Russian).
01-21-2020, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, NC
On Tuesday, January 21st, 2020, two dancers and two musicians of Russian dance, song and music ensemble Barynya provided dance and music workshop with questions and answers from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, and formal performance from 12:00PM to 1PM at the Cumberland Hall Auditorium on Fayetteville campus Fayetteville Technical Community College, 2201 Hull Road, Fayetteville, NC 28303. Students learn facts about Russia, and asked questions about Russian Culture and e njoy traditional Russian folk dances, music, and songs performed on garmoshka, and balalaika. Cast of performers included dancer Alisa, singer Mikhail Smirnov, balalaika player Elina Karokhina, and dancer Sergey.
10-13-2017, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
Ensemble Barynya performed two concerts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC on Friday, October 13, 2017. Program included Russian folk dance "Kalinka", Ukrainian folk song and dance "Hopak", Cossack song and dance "Varen'ka", Russian traditional dance "Barynya", Russian Jewish wedding dance with candles, Jewish Bottle dance, Russian Roma (Romani) Gypsy song and dance "Mardzhandzha", Russian folk song and dance "The Snowstorm", introduction of the Russian string instrument "BALALAIKA" (instrumental solo of folk melody "Kamarinskaiya", Russian Tongue-Twisters Medley, Russian folk dance lesson, Waltz "The Butterfly" by Vasily Andreev, Russian folk song "Husband Forsed Me", Felt Boots, Sabre Dance, and other selections.
04-26-2016, First Flight Elementary School, Kill Devil Hills, NC
Elina Karokhina and Mikhail Smirnov performed a concert at the First Flight Elementary School on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Program of the show included Siberian Nanai Wrestling Dance "Нанаец", Russian folk button accordion "Гармошка" introduction with traditional Russian song "Kalinka", The Snowstorm, Russian folk dance ("Метелица"), Kamarinskaiya, Russian folk instrument balalaika introduction ("Камаринская"), Russian Tongue Twisters Medley ("Скороговорки"), Jewish wedding dance "Свечки", Russian Percussian Orchestra interactive game with students ("Трещётки"), Russian Romani Roma Gypsy song and dance ("Цыганский"), Russian folk dance lesson ("Урок танца"), Ukrainian folk song and dance Pidmanoola ("Украинский"), instrumental solo "Чардаш", Russian Bear dance "Медведь", and other selections.
04-25-2016, Davidson County Community College, Davie Campus, Mocksville, NC
One hour concert of Russian traditional music, songs and dances for students in Mocksville, North Carolina on Monday, April 25, 2016. Performance started at 12:30PM at the Davidson County Community College, Davie Campus, 1205 S Salisbury Street, Mocksville, NC 27028.
04-22-2016, Estes Elementary School, Asheville, North Carolina
Friday, April 22, 2016, Estes Elementary School, 275 Overlook Rd, Asheville, NC. Program of performance: Siberian Nanai wrestling dance "Bor'ba Nanaiskikh Malchikov",
Russian folk song and dance "Kalinka",
Russian folk song "Moroz",
Russian dance "Metelitsa" ("The Snowstorm"),
Russian folk song "Kamarinskaiya" (balalaika solo, instrumental),
Russian Jewish wedding dance,
Russian tongue-twisters,
Russian Gypsy Balalaika medley and dance,
Russian Alphabet lesson,
Russian percussion band plays "Korobushka" (Peddlers),
Russian dance workshop,
"Chardash" (balalaika solo. instrumetal),
Russian Bear dance.
A school assembly program on September 17th, 2014 at the Kitty Hawk Elementary School, 16 S Dogwood Trail, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949. The program included Nanai wrestling dance, Russian folk song Kalinka, Russian dance "Metelitsa", Kamarinskaiya, Russian tongue-twisters, Russian Chicken dance, Russian Alphabet Lesson, Russian dance workshop, Russian Bear dance.
11-13-2012, New Century International Middle School, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, and dancer Erik Davletbaev performed school aseembly show at the New Century International Middle School in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 10am.
