WorldFestivalAssociation

The Cultural Heritage Association of Nicosia in cooperation with Larnaka Municipality is organizing the 17th Mediterranean Folklore Dance, Choirs and Band Festival in Larnaka and Nicosia, Cyprus from 12th to 17th of September, 2024.Groups from countries from all over the world and from Cyprus will be chosen to participate at the Festival. Our Festival has been Awarded in 2019 with the EFFE award as one of the best folklore dance festivals in Europe. It is about the commingling of cultures with live music and musicians, synthesis of colours and original traditional costumes. It is an institution that fosters mutual interaction and cultural exchange, it is a matter educating culture. This festival is the product of the desire and love of the friends of the foklore dance and heritage. They give people the opportunity to meet and coexist through music and dance from other countries.

DISCOVER LARNAKA

Beautifully compact, easily accessible and truly authentic, Larnaka is Cyprus' oldest soul with a history that dates back 10,000 years, making it the longest continually inhabited region of the island. And with its status as the most centrally positioned city, Larnaka also offers easy access to the island's other regions, making it the ideal destination for a Cyprus holiday. Whilst the region is rich in the ancient culture of hundreds of years of contrasting civilisations and architecture, Larnaka is also a thriving and modern European city that offers the best of all worlds. A characteristic feature is that tourists will find that there is no distinction between resort and town; locals and visitors alike can enjoy the same daily experience of a charming and diverse Mediterranean city. From stretches of varied coastline, a mix of traditional and cosmopolitan establishments and fascinating monuments, Larnaka seamlessly blends its two ‘faces’. Recent developments are the Larnaka Marina creating 4,000 jobs and generating for the economy and tourism due to the new hotels and establishments built.

DISCOVER NICOSIA

Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, has built-in elements of the many empires and kingdoms that have claimed it over the centuries, starting with the Bronze Age. Narrow winding streets lead visitors from the Cyprus Museum, with its collections of Neolithic and Roman exhibits, to the city walls. Today, the walls, built at the beginning of the 17th century by the Venetians, separate the ancient city from the modern one. Pass through the stone gates and you will enter a place where the past is still alive. Your shopping experience can start with either a cup of coffee or a meal with friends at one of the trendy cafes / restaurants on Ledras and Onasagorou streets. The shops on this busy street are small, unlike their counterparts abroad, and offer a distinctly personal and friendly customer experience. It is suitable for browsing the shops at any time of the day or simply for an evening stroll when the shops are beautifully lit up.

Conditions for participation:

All folklore dance groups from Mediterranean countries may participate, but we are also accepting folklore dance groups from anywhere in the world, as we want to give the opportunity to anyone that wishes to join..

The organisers of the festival are not responsible for providing any Visas to International individuals (outside the EU) that are applying for the festival. So make sure you get in contact with the embassy in time before your arrival. We can only provide help with communication.

Maximum dance group, choir and band members is 30).  If groups however wish to bring more members then it is permitted, just contact us. We encourage dance groups to bring their own traditional choirs and bands if any available in their own company. In this case, the maximun number of participants including all, dance, choir and band members of the same group, will be sixty (6o) people.

We will be accepting groups from the age of sixteen (16) year old.

Groups interested for participating must send a DVD of their own work, along with a biography of their group and CV.

Participation fee:

- Participants: 260 Euro per person - 5 FB (full board)

- Every member of the Dance group, including musicians must pay a participation fee of 260 euros per person which you must pay in advance.

- Accompanying people: 290 Euro per person - 5 FB (full board) - Any extra people that wish to join the group for purposes of visiting Cyprus and have fun during the days of the festival as escorts of the group must pay 290 euros per person. They will also receive the same benefits described.

- Free accommodation: The Leader of all groups will be our guest and therefore not pay the registration fee. You are also welcomed to bring representatives from your country; that may be the Mayor of your town or a professional well-known journalist that may want to cover the promotion of Cyprus to their country. They will also be our guests and not pay any fees.

- The festival provides bus for local transportation, including the arrival and departure from and to the airport.

It is suggested to issue health insurance from your home country. Also you must have the legal safe pass by the law for covid 19.

Arrival: On the 12th of September 2024 early morning in Larnaca. It is important to be in Cyprus early in the morning as we have performance at night. We will not accept group coming after 12:00 (midday) of 14th of September. Those who can not find flights should come earlier paying there extra night accomodation.

Departure: On the 17th of September 2024 from Larnaca before 12:00 (midday). The check out of the hotel is at 11:00 (morning).

Performances:

There will be a total of eight (8) performances over the 6 days of the festival.

Four(4) of the performances need to be with a different choreography and costumes for dancers and for choirs and bands it needs to be different songs and outfits.

Some of the performances are in the morning, so please be prepared with also a lighter/cooler traditional outfit from your country, since Cyprus is still really warm in September.

Participation fee includes:

Accomodation in Hotel Apartments of 1-2-3-4 bedrooms or 3-4 star hotel rooms for 2-3-4 persons in a room. People who want accomodation in a single or double room should pay the difference of the price. A single room costs 35 euro per person per night and a double costs 25 euro per person per night extra

3 buffet meals per day

Internal Transportation (transfers from airport to hotel and back, or transportations from and to venues if needed)

Free entrance to venues and archaeological museums.

Free mini cruise, party on boat and diving

Traditional Parties with free food and drinks

Day trip tour to Nicosia

Presents and Tshirt

We can organise extra excursions for each group for a small fee for the transportation

We are NOT responsible for the expenses for your transportation to Cyprus (airplane tickets, lateral flow tests if needed, etc.)

Chosen groups will have the opportunity to exhibit traditional items and costumes from their country. During the festival, a Costume Exhibition will take place, where all the chosen countries will exhibit the traditional costume of their country. A special ceremony will take place at the venue. Groups can bring souvenirs from their country to the festival to exchange with other country groups. 

In order to review the application for participation, you should add a link to a video of your performance in the application form.

Any group willing to participate must submit an Application form. 

Approved groups pay in advance a 10% guarantee fee, which is to be deducted at the final payment. 

Next payment: 100 Euro prepaid to the organizing team, and the rest - one month before the festival.

The amount of 100 euro is non-refunded if any cancellations occur from the groups side or from the organisers side incase of any pandemic, natural disasters or war circumstances. This is because we still require to pay reservations for hotels and bookings.

NUMBER OF SEATS IS LIMITED!!

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News about festival 

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The XVI Mediterranean Folklore Festival for dances, choirs and groups has been awarded the EFFE award as one of the best folklore dance festivals in Europe. The event will take place in Larnaca and Nicosia, Cyprus, from 14 to 19 September 2023, and will welcome local groups, as well as participants from around the world.

The organizers of the forum are the Cultural Heritage Association of Nicosia in cooperation with the Municipality of Larnaca.

The festival is the fruit of the desire and love of folk dance friends and heritage for the interaction and exchange of different cultures, their music and their original traditional costumes. The Mediterranean adventure provides the opportunity for unique international acquaintances based on the love of the scene and traditions.

It is great oportunety to dance and sing on  the sights of the island of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, guaranteeing yourself unforgettable concert thrills.

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Reviews from the groups: 

This festival has review of 13 groups and average estimation is EXCELLENT  - 9,0/10