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Our classes:

Russian Language

Russian Literature

Arts and Crafts

Music and Chorus

Drama Club

"Mommy and Me" Early childhood program for children 3 years old and up

Russian as a foreign language program for adults and children

MID-HUDSON RUSSIAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

MHRCA is a non-profit organization that unites the Russian-speaking community in the region and enhances the lives of immigrant families by providing a home for Russian Culture and Language, since 2010. We are volunteer-based association of people who bonded by friendships and common goal of expanding the public’s understanding and appreciation of Russian arts, culture and history through Russian School and a variety of publicly open events, such as: New Year Celebrations, Community Picnics, Theatrical performances of our Drama Club and more.

Our Russian School provides classes for children and adults with an emphasis on Language, Literature, Art and Music. The School helps children to adjust to the US educational system while preserving their Russian Language and cultural heritage through various programs designed to developed spirit, mind and body. Everyone is welcome here, regardless of faith or ethnic background. We strive to provide peaceful, friendly atmosphere which fosters beautiful memories and helps building life-long friendship.

MHRCA Board of Directors:

Anastasia Vayshenker, President

Svetlana Otvertchenko, Vice-president

Ilmira Potapova, Treasurer

Anastasia Cole

Ekaterina Falsetta

Asel Murzatova

Kamilla Najdek

Svetlana Tverskaya

“Why to Learn Russian?”

Russian Language connects you to 150 million people who list Russian as their mother tongue and another 110 million who speak it fluently as a second language.

Maybe you have family or friends with Russian heritage. Learning about Russian language and culture will give you a deep appreciation for the people who live in this vast region that spans 9 times zones and borders 16 countries.

Give your curiosity and your sense of fun free reign as you savor pelmeni, play chess, or greet your new friends with “Kak dela?” Travel abroad to try authentic Russian activities: camping in wild-wood, ice fishing, skiing, skating, snowboarding, and of course, Russkaya banya! ( Rassian Sauna). Travel there to see beautiful old-style Russian cities with an amazing architecture.

Russian is one of the major languages of the world and is also one of the official languages of the United Nations. Russian language has significant propagation in 33 countries of the world. According to W3Techs research (March 2013), Russian became the second most abundant language in Internet: 6% web-resources of the world’s web network communicated in Russian. Special university programs for studying Russian language offered in 79 countries; in 54 countries school education and training conducted in Russian.

Learn about Russian Music and Dance Styles

Traditional: The Russian-speaking world features a diverse array of traditional music and dance. Even Russian folk songs are full of Romany (gypsy) and Jewish influences. Traditional Russian dances include the Troika, at three-person dance that is named after a sled drawn by three horses, and khorobushka or korobeiniki, a dance in pairs set to atraditional tune. Some of the most famous traditional Russian instruments are the balalaika, a three-stringed triangular guitar, and the domra, a four- or five-stringed instrument used to play melody.

Learn about Russian Holidays

The most popular Russian holiday is Noviy God, or New Year. This is an important family holiday, much like Thanksgiving is in the U.S. Everyone gathers together to celebrate around a festive table.

Maslenitsa, or butter week, is a favorite celebration marking the end of winter. Thin pancakes with various fillings are consumed in abundance, and carnival atmosphere prevails.

International Women’s day, March 8, is also a major holiday. Like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day in one, this national holiday involves candy, gifts, banquets, and assorted celebrations of women from co-workers to wives to mothers.

The most reverent holiday – 9 May – Victory Day. With over 20 million Russian lives lost in Great Patriotic War, memories are still painful in every Russian family. The broad support for many events celebrating the war heroes even in the early 21st century indicates that the victory in the Great Patriotic War remains of everlasting value to the Russian people.

Due to the many years of communism, religious holidays are not widely celebrated, although Orthodoxy has become something of a de-facto state religion. Easter and Christmas are becoming more popular, though, Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the holidays two weeks after their western counterparts, according to Julian calendar.

Learn about beautiful Russian Crafts/Folk Art

Nesting Dolls - Матрёшки

Rostov enamels – precious miniatures, which have for centuries adorned church utensils, household objects and pieces of jewelry

Khokhloma – red and gold lacquer painting over carved wood

Palekh – black lacquer painting over carved wood

Gzhel – blue and white ceramics

Dymkovskaya Igrushka – brightly colored toys made of clay

Zhostovo trays – skillful hands of Zhostovo masters have turned this household utensil into a work of art

Bogorodskaya Igrushka - carved and painted wooden toys

Vologda lace – smooth and flowing Vologda laces were always notable for their characteristic ornaments. The main feature of those laces is delicacy. Local lace makers created lots of transparent nets that served as ground and types of laces that looked like a frosty window or blossoming garden, or a meadow full of flowers. But they are not spider web like. Made of firm flax or cotton threads, Vologoda lace are strong and weighty

Shawls are also a traditional folk art, with different regions known for different styles — the most popular being the flowered shawls from Pavlovskii Posad

and delicate knit goat’s wool shawls from

Orenburg

Russia inherited the tradition of icon painting from Byzantium when Vladimir adopted Christianity in the late tenth century. While icons can be created in various kinds of material, including mosaic, the typical icon is a form of painting on wood.

So, “Why to Learn Russian?” – to discover this beautiful culture and spirituality!

Is it hard? Is the language that difficult? – although Russian language is complex, at the same time, it is well-structured and melodic which makes it easy to learn!