Mikhail Smirnov is an artistic director and founder of the Russian music, dance and song ensemble "Barynya".
 
Ensemble Barynya (Russian Барыня) was established in 1991 in New York City. Barynya is a world renowned group that enjoys exalting stature as the premier Russian folk ensemble outside of Russia.
 
Baryna presents Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Jewish and Russian Gypsy traditional dancing, music, songs, and virtuoso performances on instruments including the balalaika, garmoshka (Russian folk button accordion), balalaika contrabass, bayan accordion, Gypsy guitar, violin, and the domra. Barynya has been invited to perform at some of the most prestigious cultural venues in the United States, including Carnegie Hall in New York, the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the Smithsonian Institute of America in Washington D.C., the United Nations in New York, and the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C.
 

 
Barynya is globally recognized and boasts an impressive client roster of dignitaries, politicians, celebrities and organizations from around the world. The group performed at the black-tie Gala after the Liberty Medal was presented to former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev by President George H.W. Bush in 2008. The prestigious event was attended by over one thousand dignified guests including the likes of Tom Brokaw, Dikembe Mutumbo and Van Cliburn.

 

 
Barynya also performs annually at the Russian Nobility Ball for the Russian Nobility Association in New York. Members of the ensemble have been invited to perform at many film premier and celebrity parties, including the official post-Grammy Award parties in New York and for private events hosted by Barbara Walters, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, and Tommy Hilfiger. Most recently, Mikhail Smirnov, the founder and Artistic Director of Barynya, was invited as one of the eight judges on NBC’s hit dance show, "Superstars of Dance". Each judge is an expert in a different nation’s traditional style of dance and the NBC producers decided that Mr. Smirnov, as founder of the premier Russian folk ensemble outside of Russia, is the authority on traditional Russian dance.
 

Sunday, January 10, 2010, 8:40PM, 9:40PM, 10:40PM,
APAP booking conference NYC Hilton, Morgan Suite, 2 Floor
1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019

08:40PM Barynya
09:40PM Moscow Gypsy Army
10:40PM Mazal Tov

MUSICIANS/SINGERS: Yakov Yavno (vocals), Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals), Alexander Menshikov (vocals), Leonid Bruk (bass, balalaika contrabass), Lev Zabeginsky (balalaika), Alexey Efimenko (guitar), Alexandre Tseytlin (violin), Sasha Mogilevich (drums),
DANCERS: Valentina Kvasova, Natalia Ejova, Olga Chpitalnaia, Ksenya Hentisz, Ilia Pankratov, Andrei Kisselev, Andrij Cybyk, Alexander Rudoy.

Association of Performing Arts Presenters Showcase Poster
"Superstars of Dance" global dance competition, NBC, 2009
 

Barynya dancers pictured on TV GUIDE website during SUPERSTARS OF DANCE international competition led by famous producers Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance). Barynya performed acrobatic Cosssack dance routine in this competition hosted by Michael Flatley ("Lord of the Dance") and Susie Castillo, a former Miss USA. Artistic Director of Barynya was one of eight judges to decide which country will take home the coveted Trophy. Of course, Mikhail was not able to vote for Russian Team or Barynya dancers. The show premiered on NBC network on January 4th and aired through January 26th, 2009.
 

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video: Barynya dancers @ "World On Stage" festival, Stamford, CT, May 2009
 

watch this video on YouTube.com
 
video from concert in Morristown, New Jersey, February, 2009
 

watch this video on YouTube.com
 

PROGRAMS: Ensemble Barynya is offering a few different programs: formal concert for performing art centers, Russian dance and music program for multicultural school assemblies, Russian dance and music workshops, Russian FolkTales and Fairy Tales. Founder of the group Mikhail Smirnov is hosting all performances by giving a short explanation of every number of the program in English.
 
.. COSTUMES: Colorful Russian, Siberian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Gypsy and Klezmer stage outfits: "sarafans", "kokoshniks", "rubashkas", "sapogis", and "kosovorotkas". Each dance number performed in appropriate and authentic costumes, all hand-made by well known traditional Russian custume designer Svetlana Gavrilova who also created all costumed characters and mascots.
 

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MEMBERS: Only the best Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian dancers and musicians can become a member of the ensemble. Top folk dancers, traditional virtuoso musicians and top singers of the ensemble Barynya use to perform with world re-known companies: Moiseev Dance Company, Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company, Don Cossacks of Rostov Don, Andreev State Symphonic Balalaika Orchestra, Moscow State Folk Center "Russian Song", Ensemble of Black Sea Navy Dancers, Riverdance, "Beryozka" and others.
 
STORY: Russian folk dance and music trio Barynya was founded in November 1991 by Russian accordion player Mikhail Smirnov, dancer Sasha Anchutin, and Russian folk singer Natasha Demidova. The first show took place at the Russian restaurant "Fyodoroff" in Carle Place, New York. Program of the Barynya ensemble always started with fast Russian traditional dance Barynya which later has become the name of the group.
 
REVIEWS: "...'Barynya', world-acclaimed musicians, singers and dancers...", said journalist KEITH J. O'CONNOR in his article "Russia's taste goes beyond the palate" in the Massachusetts' "Republican" ..
 
RECOMMENDATIONS: "...Beautiful performance helped make the Global Festival such a memorable evening... I could not be more impressed. I was up and out of my seat, dancing alone with them for just about every dance..." more recomendations
 
CLIENTS: Top cultural venues of the United States, US corporations, Russian Nobility, American educational organizations, best event and party planners, Russian tycoons and oligarchs choose Brooklyn based ensemble "Barynya", when they need top quality Russian entertainment - dancers, virtuoso musicians, singers and performers.

 
Mikhail Gorbachev's Liberty Medal Award Gala at the National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA
 

 

 
PHOTOS
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensemble Barynya musicians and singers
 

Ensemble Barynya with legendary Gypsy singer Zhenya Shevchenko
 

 
BOOKING/CONTACT
 

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Tuesday, November 24th, 2009. "Global Govs Passport Series", 11am setup, 12pm-1pm 90 min performance at Austin Peay State University, University Center Lobby, 601 College Street, Clarksville, TN 37044. A.Menshikov, M.Smirnov, A.Maltsev, V.Kvasova and two dancers, total of 6 performers.
 
Sunday, November 29th, 2009, 3pm. Barynya trio at the Ridgewood Public Library, Belcher Auditorium, 125 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey, 07450. Phone: 201-670-5600.
 
Tuesday, December 1st 2009, evening performance at the Lancaster Mennonite High School - Fine Arts Center, 2176 Lincoln Highway East (Route 30), Lancaster, PA 17602. Performers: Maltsev, Kvasova, Rudoy, Chpitalnaia, Siniavski, Smirnov.
 
Saturday, December 12th, 2009. Russian Balalaika duo (Siniavski, Smirnov) will play mix of Russian and American Christmas music during the private party at 900 Fox Hill Lane, Scotch Plains, New Jersey 07076.
 
January 1st, 2010, 1pm-2:30pm. Smirnov, Kvasova, Maltsev. Fox Hills Adult Community, 1209 Hamilton Drive, Rockaway, NJ 07866, Phone: 973-607-1826
 
January 8, 2010, 1:30PM-2:45PM. The United Nations International School, Queens Campus, 173-53 Croydon Road, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432, phone: 718-658-6166. Two dancers, one musician/singer.
 
January 10, 2010. New York City Hilton Hotel. APAP conference.
08:40 Barynya
09:40 Moscow Gypsy Army
10:40 Mazal Tov
CAST: Yakov Yavno, Mikhail Smirnov, Alexandre Tseytlin, Ksenya Hentisz, Alexey Efimenko,
 
January 24-25, 2010. Clarksville, TN. Concerts with a legendary Russian folk singer Nikolai Massenkoff.
 
Friday, February 12th, 2010. "Maslenitsa" - Russian Pancake celebration at the Embassy of the Russian Federation, 2650 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, DC 20007, pending.
 
Saturday, February 13th, 2010. Dancers: A.Maltsev, V.Kvasova, musicians: A.Siniavski, M.Smirnov, singer A.Menshikov. Russian Festival "Maslenitsa" in Albany, New York.
 
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010. 3 shows at Easton Elementary School, 307 Glenwood Ave. Easton, MD 21601, Barynya dance/music trio, pending.
 
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010, 9am. The Country School, 716 Goldsborough Avenue, Easton, MD 21601. Barynya dance/music trio, pending.