Photo of Mikhail Smirnov

Mikhail Smirnov

Comments

Post a comment...
10 of 75More

Badges

Mikhail Smirnov hasn't earned any badges yet... have you?

Blurbs

About me:

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 in the Press

 
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
click to see full size 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.
 
Barynya at the Superstars 

of Dance, NBC, 2009, Photo courtesy Chris Haston/NBC
view pictures and video

 
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.
 

 
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
 
Mikhail Gorbachev's 

Liberty Medal Award Gala 2008
 
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 in Philadelphia... read letter of recommendation.
 
Eight Barynya dancers, four musicians and three singers entertained a black-tie dinner for more than 1,000 guests including 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.

 
PHOTOS
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Russian Siberian dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Russian Siberian dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Russian Siberian dance
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo 

by Dalia Bagdonaite, Russian dance Ensemble Barynya, photo 

by Dalia Bagdonaite, Russian dance
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Russian dance Ivan Kupala Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Russian dance Ivan Kupala Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Russian dance Ivan Kupala
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Russian dance Ivan Kupala Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Russian dance Ivan Kupala Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Russian dance Ivan Kupala
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Jewish wedding dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Jewish wedding dance
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Jewish wedding dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Jewish wedding dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Jewish wedding dance
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Jewish wedding dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Jewish wedding dance
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Ukrainian national dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Ukrainian national dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Ukrainian national dance
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Gypsy dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Gypsy dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by Dalia 

Bagdonaite, Gypsy dance
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Dance of Russian Sailors Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Dance of Russian Sailors
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Dance of Russian Sailors Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Dance of Russian Sailors
 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Russian Nobility dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Russian Nobility dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Russian Nobility dance
 
Barynya musicians
Ensemble Barynya musicians and singers

 
Barynya musicians
Ensemble Barynya with legendary Gypsy singer Zhenya Shevchenko

 
Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Russian Cossack dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Russian Cossack dance Ensemble Barynya, photo by 

Dalia Bagdonaite, Russian Cossack dance
 
BOOKING/CONTACT
 
Ensemble "Barynya" is available for hire as one powerful ensemble or in smaller groups to fit in any budget. For fast price quote contact Mikhail Smirnov.

 
VIDEOS
 

 
"Subboteya" - «У нас нонче субботея»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Barynya" - «Барыня»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Dark Eyes" - «Очи Черные»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Nanai Kids Wrestling"
«Борьба двух нанайских малышей»

 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"At The blacksmith's" - «Во кузнице»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"The Snowstorm" - «Метелица»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
Russian Tongue-Twisters - Русские Скороговорки
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Meadowland's Duck" - «Утушка моя луговая»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Small Apple" - Dance of Russian Sailors
Матросский танец «Яблочко»

 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
Russian "Two Step Dance" (balalaika solo)
«Девочка Надя» - соло на балалайке

 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Volga Boatmen" - «Эй, ухнем»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
Cossack's Dance - Казачий танец
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"The Peddlers" - «Коробушка»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Lara's Theme" - Музыка из фильма «Доктор Живаго»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
Jewish Wedding Dance From Odessa, Ukraine
Еврейская свадьба на Украине под Одессой

 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Hopak" - Ukrainian dance
Украинский народный танец «Гопак»

 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"At The Chamber" - «Во горнице»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Along The Piterskaya" - «Вдоль по Питерской»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
Russian Nobility dance "Daniel Cooper"
«Данила Купер» - танец русских дворян

 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"No Grief For Me" - «Что мне горе»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Turquoise Golden Rings" - «Бирюзовые златы колечики»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Ivan Kupala" - «Иван Купала»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
Bayan Solo - соло на баяне
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Those Were The Days" - «Дорогой длинною»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Litlle Sun" - «Солнышко»
 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Two guitars" and "Where Are They?"
«Две гитары» и «Кай Ёнэ»

 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Moscow Nights" and "Katyusha"
«Подмосковные вечера» и «Катюша»

 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
"Kalinka" and "Barynya" (finale)
«Калинка» и «Барыня» (финал)

 

Watch this video on YouTube.com
 
Schedule of upcoming performances
 
Saturday, November 14th, 2009, 11:00am to 12:30pm. World City Season 2009 at Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County. The Music Center, W.M. Keck Amphitheatre at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90012, Phone: (213) 972-3379. L.Bruk, M.Smirnov, A.Maltsev, Sophia Panych, A.Menshikov, Lina Karokhina, A.Rudoy, N.Ejova.
 
Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 6:30 pm to 11:30 pm. New York Can Can dancers at the Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey. "Celebrating Cezanne" party during the exhibit "Cezanne and American Modernism". 5 dancers.
 
Monday, November 16th, 2009, 6PM. Brooklyn Public Library, Ulmer Park Library, 2602 Bath Ave at 26th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11214, tel. 718-265-3443. Mikhail Smirnov (music), Alexey Maltsev (dance), Nadezhda Kuznetsova (vocal)
 
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009, 9AM, 10AM. Barynya trio. Essex Elementary School, 108 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT 06409. M.Smirnov, V.Kvasova, A.Maltsev, Nadezhda Kuznetsova
 
Thursday, November 19, 2009, 6pm-9pm. Hardford Community College, Chesepeak Center, 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, MD 21015. 20 min performance, 45 min workshop. Kvasova, Maltsev, Menshikov, Smirnov, Nadezhda Kuznetsova
 
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009, 4PM. 90 minutes performance at the New Buffalo Performing Arts Center, 1112 Clay Street, New Buffalo, Michigan 49117, phone: (269) 469-6046. Lina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov, Alexey Maltsev, V.Kvasova, Nadezhda Kuznetsova, and two dancers, total of 6 performers. directions

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.
 

Class-Act Winter Tour 2010


Sunday, February 21, 2010, 2pm. Des Plaines Public library, 1501 Ellin Wood Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016, Phone 847-827-5551.
 
Monday, February 22, 2010, 8:30am, 10am. Hunting Ridge Elementary, Palatine, IL 60067. Phone: 847-963-5300.
 
Monday, February 22, 2010, 1:15pm, 2:15pm. Booth Tarkington Elementary, 310 South Scott Street, Wheeling, IL 60090. Phone: 847-520-2775.
 
Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 1pm. Holy Cross Elementary, 720 Elder Lane, Deerfield, IL 60015. Phone: 847-945-0135.
 
Wednesday, February 24, 2010, two morning shows at two schools in Skokie, IL (pending).
 
Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 1:30pm. Edgar Allan Poe Elementary, 2800 North Highland Avenue, Arlington Heights, Illinois. Phone: 847-670-3200.
 
Thursday, February 25, 2010, three shows at three schools in Skokie, IL (pending).
 

March 2, 2010, 8:35 am, one hour show at the Valley Stream High School, Valley Stream (Long Island), NY. (Class-Act), pending.
 
Thursday, March 4, 2010, 12:30pm-1:30pm.One hour show at Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus, 11011 S.W. 104th Street, Miami, Florida 33176-3393. 4 performers.
 
March 19th, 2010. Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, 670 Doremus Ave, Glen Rock, New Jersey 07552. (3 or 4 performers). Pending
 
End of March 2010. Six dancers, A.Menshikov, M.Smirnov at "Night on the Eighth Continent" event. Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, 4701 College Drive, Erie, PA 16563, pending.
 
Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Barynya full company. Williamsport, PA
 
19th April – 16th May 2010, International Dance Festival Birmingham-United Colours of Dance, pending
 
May 2 - May 2, 2010. San Antonio, TX. Pending (four dancers and M. Smirnov)
 
Friday, May 14th, 2010. Barynya musicians (7:30pm-8:30pm), dancers (9pm-10pm) at the Annual Russian Nobility Association in America Ball. Pierre Hotel New York City, 2 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065.
 
Friday, May 28 through Sunday, May 30, 2010. "Troika" Festival, Russian Orthodox Church of the Nativity, 247 East Front Street, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16507, pending
 
Saturday, June 19th, 2010 from 6:30pm to 11:30pm. MC Misha at The Manor Restaurant, 111 Prospect Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052, Phone (973) 731-2360.
 
Sunday, October 17, 2010. Balalaika trio. Glen Cove, New York. Russian-American wedding. Pending.
 
March 1 – April 3, 2011. Moscow Gypsy Army Midwest tour. 3 musicians, 2 dancers.
 
View latest updated schedule of upcoming performances
 

Details

  • Status: Married
  • Here for: Networking, Friends
  • Hometown: Moscow, Russia
  • Orientation: Straight
  • Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
  • Zodiac Sign: Virgo
  • Children: Proud parent
  • Education: College graduate
  • Occupation: Artistic Director

Companies

  • Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya

    • Brooklyn, New York US
    • Artistic Director/Founder
    December 1991 to present
  • Barynya Entertainment

    • Fort Lee, NJ US
    • owner
    1991 to present

Login

Forgot password?

Need an account? Sign up