"Global Dance Overture" is performed at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing, on October 30, 2025. Photo: Dong Feng/GT

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in China and the Russian National Ballet "Kostroma" jointly staged Russia's international cultural and educational project "Global Dance Overture" at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing on October 30. The program reveals the history of Russia and the life of its people. In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, Natalia Stepkina, minister-counselor of the Russian Embassy in China and permanent representative to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretariat shared her insights on the BRICS international cultural and educational cooperation projects, youth exchange, mutual learning, and her prospect for future collaboration among BRICS countries.

During the Year of Russia-China Culture, Beijing, with its rich cultural heritage and unique role in world art, will be a key participant in the Russian National Ballet "Kostroma" international cultural and educational project in the BRICS countries - "Global Dance Overture."

The project aims to unite people from the BRICS countries based on shared cultural and humanitarian values. The decision to implement it was made at the highest government level and announced at the BRICS Heads of State Summit in October 2024.

Minister-Counselor Stepkina told the Global Times that cultural cooperation is a traditional pillar of interstate collaboration within BRICS.

"One of the achievements of Russia's chairmanship is the establishment of the BRICS Alliance of Folk Dance Culture in September 2024 during the ninth meeting of BRICS culture ministers, held as part of the St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures. This alliance brings together leading performing arts companies and educational organizations specializing in national dance," said Minister-Counselor Stepkina.

Folk art vividly demonstrates each country's culture, conveying its historical context and unique characteristics. Respect for traditions and cultural diversity is essentially the core idea of the Alliance.

The project includes cultural and educational components. It aims to introduce international audiences to the uniqueness and diversity of Russian folk dance culture, as well as implement a large-scale educational program which will contribute to the formation of a choreographic community - the Alliance of Folk Dance Culture of the BRICS countries, the protocol on the formation of which was signed by the ministers of the BRICS countries on the sidelines of the Cultural Forum in St. Petersburg 

It is worth noting that the Beijing Dance Academy was the first to join the Alliance of Folk Dance Culture, in response, the academy invited the choreographic college "Gubernskaya Ballet School" at the "Russian National Ballet "Kostroma" to join the World Dance Education Alliance, which it founded.

Naturally, the spectrum of our strategic partnership would be incomplete without culture, said Minister-Counselor Stepkina.

"During our chairmanship, two film festivals were held: The International Festival of Cinematic Debuts "Spirit of Fire" in Khanty-Mansiysk and the traditional BRICS Film Festival in Moscow. Additionally, there was a highly authentic music festival, the "Gathering of Dixielands and Ethno-Jazz Ensembles from BRICS countries in Russia," the BRICS Theatre Schools Festival, the Creative Business Forum, the National Brands Fair, the traditional Culture Festival, and the vibrant and unique BRICS+ Fashion Summit, which saw participation of representatives from approximately 100 countries," she said. 

"We support the activities of BRICS alliances of cultural institutions, such as the BRICS Alliance of Libraries, the BRICS Alliance of Museums, the BRICS Alliance of Art Museums and Galleries, and the BRICS Alliance of Theatres for Young Audiences. We also proposed to establish a BRICS Alliance of Film Schools," she added. 

The Russian chairmanship also featured an extensive agenda for sports cooperation. In 2024, the BRICS Sports Games were held in Kazan. These Games were conducted in an open format for the first time and attracted over 5,000 athletes from more than 80 countries. An agreement was signed to establish the BRICS Marathon League, designed to unite the major marathons of the member states, Minister-Counselor Stepkina introduced. 

In 2025, the "Global Dance Overture" project takes place in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and China. In 2026, its tour will reach Brazil, India, Ethiopia, and South Africa.