A major event in international cultural diplomacy took place at the Russian Song Theatre in Moscow — the official presentation and launch of the second stage of the large-scale international cultural and educational project Global Dance Overture 2.0.
The event was held in the unique format of an international youth gathering entitled “Dance as a Dialogue of Cultures”, bringing together hundreds of participants under one roof: international and Russian students from the country’s leading universities, including MGIMO University, RUDN University, Moscow State Institute of Culture, State University of Education and others, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, choreographers and dance professionals, and international guests.
The project was initiated and organized by the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma”, with the strategic support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, grant support from the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives (PFCI), and the assistance of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
A New Global Route: From Africa to Latin America
The Moscow gathering not only summarized the successful first stage of the project, which covered the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, China and India, but also marked the official starting point of a new intercontinental route.
The Russian National Ballet “Kostroma” will next travel to Ethiopia (November 2026), the Republic of South Africa (February 2027), and Brazil (June 2027), where the celebration of Russia Day will be infused with Latin American energy.
Special video messages to the participants were delivered on the big screen by Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation; Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry; and Alexey Labetsky, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Federative Republic of Brazil. They expressed their sincere commitment to developing creative dialogue and emphasized the unifying power of art.
Elena Galaktionova, Director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, addressed the young audience and distinguished guests from the stage.
In her speech, she read out a message of welcome from Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation:
“I warmly welcome the organizers, participants and guests of the international educational project Global Dance Overture in the BRICS countries. Humanitarian ties are an integral part of multifaceted cooperation with the BRICS countries, while open and mutually respectful contacts between people add new colours to the palette of cooperation, making it brighter and richer. Your creative initiative is also intended to contribute to strengthening friendship and trust between peoples and to the mutual enrichment of our cultures. I am confident that the events held within the framework of the project will take place in a warm and informal atmosphere, provide its numerous guests with unforgettable impressions, and contribute to the development of international cultural exchanges. I wish you a wonderful mood, unforgettable emotions and all the very best.”
Elena Galaktionova concluded her remarks:
“For my part, I am very pleased to see for myself that this hall has brought together truly motivated, well-prepared and talented young people. Dance is a language of dialogue that needs no translation… It is wonderful that you are able, right here and now, to create something positive and joyful that will stay with you and your audiences for a long time…”
The project has reached a high institutional level: within the BRICS framework, the Alliance of Folk Dance Culture was established. The second stage will culminate in the International Creative Residency in Kostroma in autumn 2027 — a professional internship and creative laboratory for young choreographers from around the world.
Press Approach
During the press approach, Elena Galaktionova, Director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, expressed her support for the project:
“We will present the plans for the implementation of the second stage of the project. The first stage was particularly notable because the National Ballet ‘Kostroma’ travelled to various BRICS countries, including India, China and Egypt. These were not simply concerts — they were meetings that enriched everyone involved...”
Maria Veshkina, Vice President of the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma”, explained the project’s format:
“As you can see, right before our eyes the theatre is becoming a meeting point for cultures from different continents. We deliberately chose the format of a youth gathering, bringing together Russian and international students, diplomats and creative groups in one hall. It is young people who will shape the future, and here, on our platform, they can interact directly, learn from one another and build genuine friendships… It is precisely from this sincere interest that true dialogue is born.”
Interactive Space
From the very first moments, the theatre was transformed into a vibrant cultural map of the world.
In the foyer, guests were welcomed by the interactive “Living Map of the World / BRICS”, where they marked their home countries with flags. The event brought together students from more than 27 countries, including Australia, Norway, Türkiye, India, Ukraine, Italy, Ecuador, Iceland, Germany, Serbia, Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Thailand, the DPRK, China, the United States, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and others.
At the special “Voices of the World” audio station, students from dozens of countries recorded greetings and warm wishes in their native languages.
Guests also explored the history of the project through a large-scale photo exhibition and discovered a Russian musical tradition during a workshop on playing traditional wooden spoons.
One of the evening’s most unusual features was the removal of the conventional boundary between the stage and the audience. Even before the official programme began, the ballet artists taught the audience the basic movements of the unifying Round Dance of Friendship, turning everyone present into an active participant in the performance.
A warm greeting from the stage was also sent to the World Youth Festival Assembly, which was taking place in Yekaterinburg at the same time.
Stage Programme
The stage programme clearly demonstrated the educational and cultural model of the project.
The educational segment was presented by graduates of the Gubernskaya Ballet School College, who are currently artists of the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma”. They demonstrated the technique, spirit and virtuosity of the Russian academic school of folk-stage dance.
The cultural core of the evening consisted of excerpts from the Russian National Dance Show.
A special guest and a vibrant creative contribution to the evening was a performance by the Alla Dukhova Dance Theatre TODES. The company presented an ultra-modern choreographic interpretation of traditional African motifs, demonstrating in practice the project’s central idea: respect for the traditions of other countries and their creative interpretation can give rise to works of contemporary art.
The Culmination: Round Dance of Friendship and a Universe of Light
The finale became a true celebration of unity.
Artists of the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma” and the Alla Dukhova Dance Theatre TODES came together on stage and, joined by the audience, performed the previously learned movements of the
Round Dance of Friendship.
Hundreds of LED wristbands, mobile phone lights and the unique “Voices of the World” audio collage, created from the sincere voices of the evening’s guests, formed the image of one vast universe glowing with kindness.
Global Dance Overture 2.0 has made a confident start, once again proving that “DANCE IS A LANGUAGE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS.”
Ahead lie new countries, thousands of kilometres, open hearts and enduring bridges of friendship between peoples.
The event was held in the unique format of an international youth gathering entitled “Dance as a Dialogue of Cultures”, bringing together hundreds of participants under one roof: international and Russian students from the country’s leading universities, including MGIMO University, RUDN University, Moscow State Institute of Culture, State University of Education and others, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, choreographers and dance professionals, and international guests.
The project was initiated and organized by the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma”, with the strategic support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, grant support from the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives (PFCI), and the assistance of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
A New Global Route: From Africa to Latin America
The Moscow gathering not only summarized the successful first stage of the project, which covered the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, China and India, but also marked the official starting point of a new intercontinental route.
The Russian National Ballet “Kostroma” will next travel to Ethiopia (November 2026), the Republic of South Africa (February 2027), and Brazil (June 2027), where the celebration of Russia Day will be infused with Latin American energy.
Special video messages to the participants were delivered on the big screen by Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation; Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry; and Alexey Labetsky, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Federative Republic of Brazil. They expressed their sincere commitment to developing creative dialogue and emphasized the unifying power of art.
Elena Galaktionova, Director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, addressed the young audience and distinguished guests from the stage.
In her speech, she read out a message of welcome from Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation:
“I warmly welcome the organizers, participants and guests of the international educational project Global Dance Overture in the BRICS countries. Humanitarian ties are an integral part of multifaceted cooperation with the BRICS countries, while open and mutually respectful contacts between people add new colours to the palette of cooperation, making it brighter and richer. Your creative initiative is also intended to contribute to strengthening friendship and trust between peoples and to the mutual enrichment of our cultures. I am confident that the events held within the framework of the project will take place in a warm and informal atmosphere, provide its numerous guests with unforgettable impressions, and contribute to the development of international cultural exchanges. I wish you a wonderful mood, unforgettable emotions and all the very best.”
Elena Galaktionova concluded her remarks:
“For my part, I am very pleased to see for myself that this hall has brought together truly motivated, well-prepared and talented young people. Dance is a language of dialogue that needs no translation… It is wonderful that you are able, right here and now, to create something positive and joyful that will stay with you and your audiences for a long time…”
The project has reached a high institutional level: within the BRICS framework, the Alliance of Folk Dance Culture was established. The second stage will culminate in the International Creative Residency in Kostroma in autumn 2027 — a professional internship and creative laboratory for young choreographers from around the world.
Press Approach
During the press approach, Elena Galaktionova, Director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, expressed her support for the project:
“We will present the plans for the implementation of the second stage of the project. The first stage was particularly notable because the National Ballet ‘Kostroma’ travelled to various BRICS countries, including India, China and Egypt. These were not simply concerts — they were meetings that enriched everyone involved...”
Maria Veshkina, Vice President of the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma”, explained the project’s format:
“As you can see, right before our eyes the theatre is becoming a meeting point for cultures from different continents. We deliberately chose the format of a youth gathering, bringing together Russian and international students, diplomats and creative groups in one hall. It is young people who will shape the future, and here, on our platform, they can interact directly, learn from one another and build genuine friendships… It is precisely from this sincere interest that true dialogue is born.”
Interactive Space
From the very first moments, the theatre was transformed into a vibrant cultural map of the world.
In the foyer, guests were welcomed by the interactive “Living Map of the World / BRICS”, where they marked their home countries with flags. The event brought together students from more than 27 countries, including Australia, Norway, Türkiye, India, Ukraine, Italy, Ecuador, Iceland, Germany, Serbia, Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Thailand, the DPRK, China, the United States, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and others.
At the special “Voices of the World” audio station, students from dozens of countries recorded greetings and warm wishes in their native languages.
Guests also explored the history of the project through a large-scale photo exhibition and discovered a Russian musical tradition during a workshop on playing traditional wooden spoons.
One of the evening’s most unusual features was the removal of the conventional boundary between the stage and the audience. Even before the official programme began, the ballet artists taught the audience the basic movements of the unifying Round Dance of Friendship, turning everyone present into an active participant in the performance.
A warm greeting from the stage was also sent to the World Youth Festival Assembly, which was taking place in Yekaterinburg at the same time.
Stage Programme
The stage programme clearly demonstrated the educational and cultural model of the project.
The educational segment was presented by graduates of the Gubernskaya Ballet School College, who are currently artists of the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma”. They demonstrated the technique, spirit and virtuosity of the Russian academic school of folk-stage dance.
The cultural core of the evening consisted of excerpts from the Russian National Dance Show.
A special guest and a vibrant creative contribution to the evening was a performance by the Alla Dukhova Dance Theatre TODES. The company presented an ultra-modern choreographic interpretation of traditional African motifs, demonstrating in practice the project’s central idea: respect for the traditions of other countries and their creative interpretation can give rise to works of contemporary art.
The Culmination: Round Dance of Friendship and a Universe of Light
The finale became a true celebration of unity.
Artists of the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma” and the Alla Dukhova Dance Theatre TODES came together on stage and, joined by the audience, performed the previously learned movements of the
Round Dance of Friendship.
Hundreds of LED wristbands, mobile phone lights and the unique “Voices of the World” audio collage, created from the sincere voices of the evening’s guests, formed the image of one vast universe glowing with kindness.
Global Dance Overture 2.0 has made a confident start, once again proving that “DANCE IS A LANGUAGE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS.”
Ahead lie new countries, thousands of kilometres, open hearts and enduring bridges of friendship between peoples.