On April 10, the National Ballet of China performed a special showcase titled “Pinnacle of Belief, Across Mountains and Rivers” at the Thousand-Person Lecture Hall on CUFE’s Shahe Campus.

Guests in attendance included Mu Zongshun, Deputy Director and National First-Class Performer of the National Ballet of China; Liu Qi, Deputy Head of the Performance Troupe and National Class I Performer; and Yu Bo, ballet master and National Class I Performer. CUFE leaders attending the event included Cai Yanyan, Member of the of the CPC Committee and Vice President; Zhang Qingdong, Deputy Party Secretary and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission; Lei Hongfeng, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee and Head of the Organization Department; and Yu Xiaoming, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee and Head of the Publicity Department. Representatives from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, a detachment of the Beijing Armed Police Corps, the Xicheng District Armed Forces Department, and student union representatives from peer universities also attended the performance. More than 1,000 faculty and students watched the event. Jointly organized by the CUFE Youth League Committee, Academic Affairs Office, and Student Affairs Office, the performance served as a “thought-provoking ideological and political education class on pointe,” integrating high-level art into education.

The performance opened with selections fromFour Classical Women’s Dance, featuring elegant choreography and precise coordination that guided the audience into the world of classical ballet. This was followed by excerpts fromAct III of The Sleeping Beautypas de deux andAct II of Swan Lake,both of which showcased the timeless charm of classical ballet and offered an aesthetic immersion in its refined beauty.

The program then shifted to contemporary expression, with modern worksCollision and French Twist,highlighting the vitality and innovation of ballet in a contemporary context. An excerpt from the Chinese balletThe Red Detachment of Womenportrayed a moving revolutionary story, vividly interpreting theYimengspirit of unity between the Party and the people, and deep bonds between the military and civilians. A selection from the classical balletLe Corsairefurther demonstrated technical excellence and the enduring vitality of traditional ballet.

The climax of the evening featured an excerpt fromThe Red Detachment of Women, China’s first original national ballet. Through powerful movements and expressive performance, the dancers vividly depicted the heroic struggle of revolutionary predecessors fighting for national liberation and ideological conviction.

A special interactive segment, “Ballet Masterclass,” was also presented by Cao Shuci, assistant to the ballet master, former principal dancer, and National First-Class Performerof the China National Ballet. She provided an interpretation of classical ballet, covering its historical origins, technical features, and aesthetic significance.

Blending revolutionary tradition with the art of ballet, the performance created an innovative platform for aesthetic and ideological education, transforming artistic appreciation into emotional and intellectual engagement. CUFE continues to advance its “Aesthetic Education + Ideological and Political Education” initiative, fostering an integrated educational framework that cultivates talent through the power of art and aligns education with the needs of the new era.

Reviewers:LI Yanjun, XUE xue, MIAO Tian

Editors: LI Ying

Approvers: HUO Xiaoran