Eastern Slavic folk music, song, and dance ensemble CHICAGO COSSACKS from Chicago, Illinois performs Ukrainian, Polish, Klezmer, Romani, American oldies, classical music, Italian, French, German, and other world music and songs.
The band plays traditional musical instruments such as a mandolin and accordion.
All musicians obtained formal music degrees in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. The group performs at festivals, cultural centers, libraries, private parties, and other such venues. We offer a flexible structure to meet our client's needs.
We hosted the Chicago Cossacks Musical Trio at the Prospect Heights Public Library and they did a wonderful job. The songs they played were fantastic as were cultural lessons between each song and our patrons truly love every second of it. I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking an amazing musical performance.
We were very happy to welcome your group into our library! The music, vocals, and dancing were all fantastic, and it was nice to see the program bring in some new faces to our library as well. Your organization is very talented!
The Chicago Cossacks performed for our Multicultural Event this year, and our patrons loved them! The dancing and music was very authentic, and our patrons learned a lot about Ukrainian Culture as well. Thank you!
I hired the Chicago Cossacks to be the first of my new "Global Neighbors" series at the Park Ridge Public Library. They were a perfect all-in-one program: music, dance, and insightful instruction. The dancers changed costumes several times (to the amazement of our audience) and the musicians even changed their hats! Patrons greeted each other in Ukrainian, gave the group several standing ovations, and even cried for joy. It was everything I'd hoped for.
Chicago Cossacks were a fan favorite and we hand a long waitlist for this event. We will absolutely have them back.
Our library hosted Chicago Cossacks over the weekend, and they were a real hit. Several attendees let us know how much they enjoyed the performance. Great quality music and dance.
Wonderful presentation, the singer has an amazing voice, they explained every song and the dancers were great. Overall it was beautiful!
The library members and I all really enjoyed the performance! I thought it was really great, they were professional and knew what they were doing each step of the way. They were also resourceful in figuring out how to arrange the available equipment. We got a lot of positive verbal feedback as the members left, and that was echoed in the survey results, several of which said they really enjoyed the performance!
We held this performance at our university in celebration of Fyodor Dostoevsky's 200 birthday, it was great fun for the students and an informative cultural event as students complete their study of The Brothers Karamazov.
The trio of musicians were energetic and outgoing and it was great fun to see instructors and students dancing and enjoying themselves after so many months of the pandemic.
Chicago Cossacks performed at our senior facility and did a wonderful job. Once we had to move the entertainment indoors, we had to space out each performance due to social distancing, but each performance was magical. We had 2 dancers and they were wonderful to watch. I would recommend them to anyone - Henry was very easy to work with and the performers are very professional.
An ensemble of two musicians and a dancer from Chicago Cossacks performed for Decatur Area Arts Council's Eastern European cultural event. Their presentation was exactly what we had hoped for! The performers were excellent - so versatile and talented. They presented music and folk dances from multiple cultures as well as explanations of the traditional instruments they were playing. And, what a beautiful visual element each time the dancer came out in a different ethnic costume! She engaged the audience in learning easy dance steps and did an amazing job of breaking it down to be fun for all ages. To top it off, Gennady worked within our budget to make it all happen! Highly recommend the Chicago Cossacks!
They were on time and ready to go. They were professional, polite, and very entertaining. Very happy with the experience will definitely consider inviting them again.
It's been almost a month since we had the pleasure of hosting the Cossacks at our wedding and we and our guests cannot stop raving at the quality, uniqueness and joy they provided us on our life changing day. Gennady is an absolute pleasure to 1. Do business with (incredibly responsive, flexible and professional) and 2. Have perform with his team at any occasion.
Many of my guests never knew about Ukrainian/Jewish folk music and had definitely never been taught to dance to it. Thank you all of the Cossack team for leaving every guest with smile and a few new dance moves :)
Chicago Cossacks was a wonderful addition to our school's special event. They were on time and gave a great performance. I liked that performers tailored the songs to what we needed.
Our library attracted a standing-room only crowd for the Chicago Cossack's recent performance. The performance was professional, upbeat, and very entertaining.
The Chicago Cossacks performed at my library this past January to a PACKED room. The costumes were authentic and beautiful, and the music was simply amazing. Perfect group for a library concert. My patrons loved them and had nothing but wonderful things to say -- we will definitely be having them back!
We were very pleased with the musical trio that performed for a community cultural fair. The Russian and Ukraine music and dance was excellent and there was audience participation.
Price Range: $100 and up
Gig Length: 15 - 180 minutes
Languages: English, Russian, Other
We present 2 types of a program:
1. Russian, Ukrainian and Gypsy songs, dances and tunes.
The English translation of the lyrics is included.
2. Music from around the World (same as 1 plus songs in English, French, Spanish, Italian etc).
Chicago Cossacks Eastern Slavic folk music group was established in 1993 in Chicago IL and since then successfully performed in Chicagoland area and since then has been entertaining people of the Greater Chicago area and beyond.
Historically Cossacks were members of multinational communities living in Ukraine and southern Russia. Often these communities were named after a river they lived near by (such as Dnieper, Kuban, Don etc). We chose the name "Chicago Cossacks" because we live along Chicago river and play multinational music.
Current members of the group:
Natasha Bodansky - vocals.
Is a native of Kharkov, Ukraine. Singing has been her passion since early years. Natasha holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from Kharkov State Institute of Arts (1995). She received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance Degree form University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where she studied voice with Frances Crawford. While in Urbana-Champaign, Natasha performed with the UIUC Russian Folk Orchestra. Natasha currently teaches voice and piano at Elkin School of Music in Highland Park, and performing extensively in Chicago area. Her repertory includes a variety of music form opera and operetta to international music. Natasha is a member of Music Academy International Community Chorus of Northwestern University. She has also been a Cantorial Soloist with UIC Hillel Foundation for five years.
Vadim Dubovsky - vocals.
Studied at Kiev Specialized Music school named after Lysenko. Holds BA in Music Teaching at Kiev Pedagogical Institute (musical-pedagogical faculty) and BA in Music at Kiev Conservatory (opera singing, dramatic baritone). Has performed at Revutsky Academic Male Capella. As a part of National Academic Choir of Ukraine "Dumka" has toured most of the European countries. Worked at Ukrainian radio in Chicago.
Nadiya Dnes - vocals.
Native of Volodymyr-Volynsky, Ukraine. Has taught music for over 18 years, specializing in Ukrainian folk instruments, particularly bayan. Performed through the years as a bayan player as solo and also ensembles and orchestras. Has a good singing voice and has also performed as a solo vocalist and as a part of larger vocal groups.
Alexander Kaminsky - double bass.
Graduated from Kharkov (Ukraine) Institute of Arts in 1979 with major in double-bass. Played in different music assembles and orchestras including Kiev Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. Playing in different styles: classical, jazz and folk music.
Arkady Pevchik - bayan (Russian button accordion).
BA in Music at Kiev (Ukraine) Music College . Worked in Kiev Concert Association as an accompanist/ Russian accordion player. Performed solo and also in many different orchestras and bands in the Ukraine and Chicago area, including Kiev Military Ensemble. The winner of the USSR Competition of accompanists.
Gennady Sergienko - domra, mandolin (band leader).
BA in Music at Kiev (Ukraine) Institute of Performing Arts, member of Balalaika & Domra Association of America. Performed in the following orchestras and bands: Russian Folk Orchestra at October Palace of Culture in Kiev, Souvenir, Tum-balalaika, The Internationals, The Russian Folk Orchestra of University of Illinois etc.
Galina Shogan - dancer.
Has danced in Modern Dance Ensemble "Festival'ny" at Sumy State University in Sumy, Ukraine for 5 years. In (phone number hidden)9 at Ballroom and Folk Dance School at Mazurdance. In (phone number hidden)8 - ballroom dances at Masterica School, choreographer Gintaras Grinkevichus. Since 2008 she is a member of dance group at Atrium Theater. Currently takes lessons at McNulty Irish Dance School.
Marta Mykhaylyshyn - dancer.
Started dancing when she was five. At the age of 14 Marta graduated Ukrainian National Dance School. Since 2008 she is a student of "Mazurdance" School. Also attends "Bravo Ballroom Studio".
If dancers are invited, the minimum required performing space is 9'x 12'
| December 10, 2022 • 7:30pm - 9:30pm | Christmas Party |
Russian and Gypsy songs and tunes:
1.Korobushka(Peddlers)
2.Kazatchok
(link hidden)scow Nights
4.Danube Waves
(link hidden)ose Were the Days (By the Long Road)
(link hidden)o Guitars
7.Dark Eyes
Ukrainian songs:
(link hidden)zpryahajte, hloptsi, koni (Unsaddle your horses, young lads)
(link hidden)tsulka Ksenya
3.Ty zh mene pidmanula (You tricked me)
4.Oj, na hori (Oh, on the mountain)
5.Kolomyjka
6.Karapet (Two-step)
| Gennady Sergienko | The group leader |
Russian and Ukrainian Folk orchestras and bands, Russian and Ukrainian dance ensembles.
one vocal microphone
two-three instrumental microphones
2 armless chairs
Denver, CO 
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