On 8 September, the Russian Song Theatre hosted the first event of the second stage of the Global Dance Overture 2.0 international cultural and educational project, implemented with the support of the Presidential foundation for Cultural Initiatives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
The event symbolically launched a new international route that will include Ethiopia, South Africa, and Brazil and conclude in Kostroma with the International Creative Dacha educational programme for young representatives of the BRICS countries.
On that day, artists of the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma” and students from leading Moscow universities—including RUDN University, Moscow State Institute of Culture, Russian State University for the Humanities, and others—came together at one venue. The students had come to study in Russia from different parts of the world: Pakistan, China, Serbia, Bolivia, Nigeria, Yemen, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as from various regions of Russia.
The Moscow programme served as a model for the educational part of the project, which will be implemented in the countries along its international route. In each country, participants will be introduced to the Russian school of folk-stage dance, take part in a practical Russian folk dance workshop and a workshop led by representatives of the host country’s national dance culture, and learn the movements of the BRICS international flash mob, the Round Dance of Friendship.
The main purpose of the event was to demonstrate in practice that folk-stage dance needs no translation and can bring together a wide variety of cultures.
Presentation Film: The guests watched vivid highlights from the first stage of the project, which had previously been successfully held in the UAE, Egypt, China, and India.
Demonstration Workshop: As if the images on the screen had come to life, a demonstration workshop unfolded on stage. Graduates of the Gubernskaya Ballet School choreographic college—now artists of the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma”—demonstrated the basic elements, virtuoso technique, and distinctive character of Russian folk-stage dance.
Practical Workshop: Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation Irina Rubtsova conducted an interactive session for all participants, teaching the students the basic elements of Russian dance: traditional dance steps, rhythmic footwork, clapping movements, and even wooden-spoon playing.
Caucasian Choreography: To showcase the diversity of our country’s culture, Alan Tsopanov—Honoured Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania and the Republic of South Ossetia and Artistic Director of the Arkhon Ensemble—shared the traditions and techniques of Caucasian dance with the guests.
Round Dance of Friendship: The interactive part of the programme culminated in a traditional symbol of unity. Participants of different nationalities came together on stage, learned shared movements expressing mutual respect and friendship, and joined the BRICS Round Dance of Friendship flash mob.
Certificates: At the end of the practical part, every participant received an official certificate of participation in the workshop programme Russian Folk Dance: Basic Elements, issued by the Gubernskaya Ballet School college affiliated with the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma”.
The Russian National Dance Show “Kostroma”: The day concluded with a vibrant and emotional viewing of the historical production The Russian National Dance Show “Kostroma”. During the finale, members of the audience spontaneously began repeating the movements they had just learned during the workshop! It was a sincere, lively, and powerful moment of unity between the artists and the audience, proving that dance is a language everyone can understand!
The event symbolically launched a new international route that will include Ethiopia, South Africa, and Brazil and conclude in Kostroma with the International Creative Dacha educational programme for young representatives of the BRICS countries.
On that day, artists of the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma” and students from leading Moscow universities—including RUDN University, Moscow State Institute of Culture, Russian State University for the Humanities, and others—came together at one venue. The students had come to study in Russia from different parts of the world: Pakistan, China, Serbia, Bolivia, Nigeria, Yemen, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as from various regions of Russia.
The Moscow programme served as a model for the educational part of the project, which will be implemented in the countries along its international route. In each country, participants will be introduced to the Russian school of folk-stage dance, take part in a practical Russian folk dance workshop and a workshop led by representatives of the host country’s national dance culture, and learn the movements of the BRICS international flash mob, the Round Dance of Friendship.
The main purpose of the event was to demonstrate in practice that folk-stage dance needs no translation and can bring together a wide variety of cultures.
Presentation Film: The guests watched vivid highlights from the first stage of the project, which had previously been successfully held in the UAE, Egypt, China, and India.
Demonstration Workshop: As if the images on the screen had come to life, a demonstration workshop unfolded on stage. Graduates of the Gubernskaya Ballet School choreographic college—now artists of the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma”—demonstrated the basic elements, virtuoso technique, and distinctive character of Russian folk-stage dance.
Practical Workshop: Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation Irina Rubtsova conducted an interactive session for all participants, teaching the students the basic elements of Russian dance: traditional dance steps, rhythmic footwork, clapping movements, and even wooden-spoon playing.
Caucasian Choreography: To showcase the diversity of our country’s culture, Alan Tsopanov—Honoured Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania and the Republic of South Ossetia and Artistic Director of the Arkhon Ensemble—shared the traditions and techniques of Caucasian dance with the guests.
Round Dance of Friendship: The interactive part of the programme culminated in a traditional symbol of unity. Participants of different nationalities came together on stage, learned shared movements expressing mutual respect and friendship, and joined the BRICS Round Dance of Friendship flash mob.
Certificates: At the end of the practical part, every participant received an official certificate of participation in the workshop programme Russian Folk Dance: Basic Elements, issued by the Gubernskaya Ballet School college affiliated with the Russian National Ballet “Kostroma”.
The Russian National Dance Show “Kostroma”: The day concluded with a vibrant and emotional viewing of the historical production The Russian National Dance Show “Kostroma”. During the finale, members of the audience spontaneously began repeating the movements they had just learned during the workshop! It was a sincere, lively, and powerful moment of unity between the artists and the audience, proving that dance is a language everyone can understand!