Russian Folk Dance Group to Perform Missouri Southern News Bureau FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2004 Contact: Dr. Chad Stebbins (417) 625-9736 E-Mail: News Bureau Voice: (417) 625.9399 FAX: (417) 625.3142 |
 JOPLIN,
MO (SNS) - "Barynya," a New York-based Russian folk
dance and music ensemble, presents a 90-minute show of traditional
Russian folk dances and songs at 7 p.m., Thursday Oct. 28 in Taylor
Performing Arts Center at Missouri Southern State University. The
performance is free and open to the public.
Professional musicians dressed in colorful stage costumes play
over15 traditional musical instruments. All musicians and dancers are
professional entertainers from the former USSR. Natalia and Misha
Smirnov founded the Russian folk song and dance ensemble Barynya in
November 1991. At first, the ensemble was just a trio, but since1998
various dancers, musicians, and singers have joined the group. The group
has performed over a thousand times in the United States.
Russian folk singer and dancer Natalia Smirnov received
a master's degree from the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts
in 1989. After completion of her formal education, she performed with
the Moscow State Musical Folklore Theatre. Misha (Mikhail) Smirnov
is a professional Russian folk performer with over 15 years of
experience. His specialty is traditional Russian folk music and songs
from various regions of Russia. He also received a master's degree from
the Moscow State Academy of Culture and Arts.
Balalaika virtuoso Alex Siniavsky arrived in the United
States from St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1992. He was a leading member of
the Andreev State symphonic balalaika orchestra, one of the most
prestigious in the former USSR. He graduated with honors from Leningrad
State Musical Conservatory and has toured throughout the former Soviet
Union, Europe, and America.
Balalaika-contrabass player Leonid Bruk was born in
Leningrad, Russia. He graduated from music school as a bass guitarist
and performed with many different groups since arriving in the U.S. in
1989.
Russian folk dancer Andrij Cybyk received his training
from Roma Bohachevsky, the Duquesne University Tamburitzans, and the
Pavel Virsky National School of Academic Ukrainian Dance in the Ukraine.
He has performed with the Anglo-American Ballet, New Jersey Ballet,
Connecticut Ballet and other companies.
Russian folk dancer Olga Chpitalnaia has made the United
States her home since 1992. She performed with the Ukrainian Dance State
Ensemble "Slavutich" and the Russian song and dance ensemble
of the Black Sea Navy Sailors. Currently with the Brighton Ballet
Theatre, Chpitalnaia has been performing with Barynya for more than five
years.
Russian folk dancer Ganna Makarova has worked in the
comedy show of Mikhail Zhvanetsky in Moscow. She graduated from the
Moscow State Institute of Theater and Long Island University. Russian
folk dancer Mikhail Nesterenko started to perform with Barynya
in 2004.
The MSSU Institute of International Studies is sponsoring the
Barynya performance as part of activities during "The Russia
Semester." The semester features a wide variety of presentations,
films, performances and other artistic and cultural activities focusing
on Russian history and culture.
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