WorldFestivalAssociation

                                          I N V I T A T I O N

    With pleasure we INVITE (folk ensembles,choral groups and majorette teams) (children, youth and adult groups  ) to participate on X International music & folk - dance festival “MUSIC AND SEA”   30 august - 03 september , Durres , 2023

  The intention of our invitation  and the Festival light motive is to present the cultural tradition of different countries and to provide an opportunity for the members of groups to get together, to establish friendships and culture presentation trough dance and music.The idea of the Festival is to bring the music closer to the people and to present the music on the streets and the squares. The festival is open for folk and choir ensembles, as well as orchestras and majorettes regardless of the members gender and age.

    Organizer of the International music festival in Durres, Albania is WOFA–World  Festival Association in cooperation with Center of Culture in Durres and local municipality..

The city hosts the Durrës Ancient City Wall called also Durrës Castle while the largest amphitheatre in the Balkans is located in the city close to the harbor. This first-century construction is currently under consideration for inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The southern coastal stretch is renowned for its traditional mass beach tourism having experienced uncontrolled urban development. The city’s beaches are also a popular destination for many foreign and local tourists, with an estimated 800,000 tourists visiting annually

.Festival program will be held on the main square in Durres.

                                             Program Proposal

30.08 day 1

  13.00.Arrival in Dures,  hotel accommodation and  free time (beach time)

18.00 – 19.00 Dinner – buffet in hotel

        21.00 Welcome reception with leaders of the groups

31.08 Day 2 

  09.00 -10.00 Breakfast– buffet,

 11.00 -15.00 Visit – sightseeing  Durres

      18.00 - 19.00 Dinner– buffet in hotel

19.30 – 23.00 Defile on the main street to the square where it will be held the Opening of the First Festival Evening, where the participants will present their culture ,tradition ,songs and dances of their country and Festival evening on the square - each participant group to prepare programme   in time of 10-15 minutes

23.00 Disco party in hotel (optional)

     01.09 DAy 3  

 09.00 -10.00 Breakfast– buffet,,

  10.30 – 15.00 Beach time or Visiting of the history city Kruje and  historic monuments and museum ( entrance 2 euro)   

17.00 – 18.00  Dinner – buffet in hotel

19.30 Second Festival evening (optional) - presentation in hotel

    02.09 Day 4  

   09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast – buffet,,

 11.00-19.00  Free time – shopping and beach time    

19.00 - 21.00 Dinner – buffet in hotel

21.00 Disco party in hotel

    03.09.Day 5 

09.00 – 11.00 Breakfast – buffet,

11.30 Departure of the participants

General rules :

- is a non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances, choral groups,majorette teams, Vocal groups, ballroom dance teams,art school.

- Every Folklore,Choral group and majorette Team has the right to participate. Children's ensembles  (2/3 of the participants must be 16 or younger), Youth ensembles (2/3 of the participants must be 25 or younger), adult ensembles (1/3 of the participants must be older than 25)

- The number of participants are limited (only 3  groups from each country),

-   Each group should consist of most 70 members including dancers, managers,musicians and family members,

-   Ensemble should have prepared at least 2 folk dances, 10-15 minutes each with orchestra or USB. For choral groups should prepare free program about 15 minutes The performances will be in the evening hours so you can plan the day ahead and use it for visiting the historical part of the city and  excursions.

-         To send us short CV and 5 photos of the group,

-         To take a flag of the country,

-          Ensembles should have there own transport for arrival and departure,

Participation fee

- 74 euro for 3 HB  on 3* and 4*  hotels like KOLAVERIT RESORT, BLY SKY,  SKAMPA , SAN PETRO hotels with outdoor swiming pool and beach

   - 94 euro for 4 HB on 3 *hotels like KOLAVERIT RESORT,BLY SKY,  SKAMPA ,SAN PETRO hotels with outdoor swiming pool and beach

    On your request we can arrange 4* hotel and we will inform you how much it will cost.

Additional double rooms are 5 euro per person per day, single room is 15 euro aditional per day per person.

Tourist tax is 1 euro per person per day and it is additional.

Video from  the festival in past years in Durres you can find on the link

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_2WBw9nwMM 

Festival organizers provide:

-         for 22 dancers – one gratis,

-         souvenir and gift for each group,

-         Certificate for attendance,

-         Welcome reception

-          drinks during performance

-         free parking

-  advertising of the festival (press release, social media promotion, posters)

INSURANCE: 

Personal responsibility and health insurance are within the other obligations of the groups. First Aid and Medical Hospital will be available, medical services must be covered by the group.

On your request,  You can continue your stay in Durres. Price will be  24 in 3* hotels – price is special for the participants in festivals that we can provide.

After Groups arrived in Hotel will be given detailed program of the festival After the festival finish organizers will send you link where you can see and take photos and videos from the festivals.

   The festival will organize the transport for the groups coming by plane by picking them up from Tirana Airport. The cost of the transportation will be covered by the group and will be additionally agreed according to their number.    Also you can come by Wizz AIr low cost carrier on Ohrid airport in Macedonia so we can arrange transfer to the hotel.

By applying you confirm that you accept all festival conditions. All detailed information  will be supply after your confirmation for participations.

In 2019 on the festival were participated 12 groups from 10 EU country with 489 participants (children, youth and adults).

 Past years from 2015 till 2019 on the festivals participated over 100 ensembles and 4000 participants from all overthe world.

NUMBER OF SEATS IS LIMITED ON 400participanst and 10-12 ensembles.

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    NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL                           Published on 03.09.2019

"MUSIC AND SEA" IN DURRES BROUGHT TOGETHER PERFORMERS FROM MANY COUNTRIES"

 From 31 august till 04 september in Durres,Alabania was held 11 International music and folk dance festival Music and SEA"

On the festival were participated 11 ensembles from Croatia, Poland, Romania,Montenegro, Bulgaria, with over 400 participants ..On the welcome reception with leaders of the groups director of the festival Mr Zoran Strezovski wish them success festival evenings and wonderfull time in the great beach resort of hotel Bonita ..Festival evenings were devided on 2 parts: on the 01 september was organized presentation of the groups and the main festival evening was in Durres main squere on 02 september.On the main squere there are many journalist from local TV and they make reportage from the festival.

Each group receive sertificates and presents from director of the festival.
Other days they have opportunety to enjoy on wonderful beach and wery worm sea in Durres, dancing and singing together on the join parties with other ensembles during the nights..
Organizers of the festivals are world festival association WOFA and local municipality in Durres.Some moments from the festival (photo and videos)

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/0B8As_IOFIAl5MGdkU3ViaXhhQ2c

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Reviews from the groups: 

This festival has review of 11 groups and average estimation is EXELLENT   - 9,0/10