IV INTERNATIONAL FOLK – DANCE & MUSIC FESTIVAL “ LAKE,SEA AND MUSIC” 14 – 18 & 19-22 June, Macedonia & Albania 2016
Location: Durres, Albania
Director: WOFA and Zoran Strezovski
Application Deadline: 1 May, 2025
With pleasure we INVITE (folk ensembles, choral groups, majorette teams and modern dance groups) (children, youth and adult groups ) to participate on IV International folk – dance & music festival “OHRID &DURRES FEST” 14 – 22 June, 2016
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.
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about 33 km, west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically significant cities of Albania. Durrës is home to Albania’s main port, the Port of Durrës, and to the newest public university, the Aleksandër Moisiu University.Durrës is an important link to Western Europe due to its port and its proximity to the Italian port cities, notably Bari, to which daily ferries run. As well as the dockyard, it also possesses an important shipyard and manufacturing industries, notably producing leather, plastic and tobacco products. Some important buildings in Durrës include the main library, the cultural center with the Aleksandër Moisiu Theatre, the Estrada Theater, the puppet theater, and the philharmonic orchestra. There are also several museums such as the Durrës Archaeological Museum, Royal Villa of Durrës and the Museum of History (the house of Aleksandër Moisiu).
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. Many tourist from Europe spend their summer vacations on the beaches of Durrës. In contrast, the northern coastal stretch is mostly unspoiled and set to become an elite tourism destination as a number of beach resorts are being built since 2009. Neighboring districts are known for the production of good wine and a variety of foodstuffs.
. The seven wonders of Ohrid
Macedonia, deep in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, is simply a small country with extraordinary beauty.
This ancient and biblical land is probably one of the last visited and least known countries in Europe, which in a way makes it even more mysterious and attractive .
Finally, this terra incognita is now ready to be discovered. And without any doubt, its most precious jewels, shining one next to the other, are the city of Ohrid and the lake Ohrid .
This is not just another story about some attractive tourist destination in Europe.
Unfortunately, not many people in Europian union are still aware about at least 7 remarkable universal achievements connected to the entire human civilization :
According to famous television game show “who wants to be a millionaire “{2007} ,Ohrid is declared as the oldest city in the world, with continuous civilization advancement! Indeed, according to many historians, Lychnidos-the city of light (the ancient name of Ohrid ) was build in the 4th century B.C, but humans have lived there for more then 8.000 years. There are for sure settlements on many other places around the globe, but somehow and sometimes they were turned into abandoned and lifeless ruins. Reasons were different: earthquakes, floods, volcano eruptions , diseases, wars....here in Ohrid, from its beginning until today, life still goes on without ending.
That is why is also called “the kingdom of archeologists”.
This small city seemed to be irresistible for great ancient rulers and kings, such as the legendary Phoenician prince Cadmus who build it, Fillip 2 of Macedon who once conquered and reconstructed it, Alexander the Great who enjoyed in it, Czar Samuel who ruled from it and many more.
However, Ohrid is the only place in the world where 2 recognized saints actually lived in the same time - St. Kliment of Ohrid (840-916) and St.Naum of Ohrid(830-910), putting an extremely strong stamp of their existence.
These 2 exceptional persons, the very best students of Cyril and Methodius, were in fact the most educated people in the world in their time. Among other achievements, they will always be remembered as establishers of the first University in Europe (893), located in Ohrid Old Town, long before the University in Bologna (1088)!
Besides that, St. kliments and St. Naum of Ohrid were investors of the Cyrillic Alphabet. As a result of their creativity and incredible work, today more then 200 million people still use this alphabet, mostly in Southeast and Eastern Europe.
Ancient ruins, beautiful amphitheater, 3 citadel walls, St.Sofia Cathedral, many churches and monasteries, gallery of exclusive icons, museums, workshops for hand-made paper, woodcarving and famous Ohrid pearls, are among hundreds sites for tourists worth to visit. There is also a strong Roman connection to the city, since Lychnidos was along the famous route Via Egnatia, build in the 2nd century B.C., connecting the Adriatic and Aegean seas.
Considering the number of churches located in the Old town (365 churches according to the immemorial legend, for local people to celebrate every single day by honoring another saint), Ohrid is called “the Balkan Jerusalem”, successfully playing the role as the biggest pilgrimage spot for all the Orthodox Christian in the world.
One of the most extraordinary churches in Ohrid is the mother of god Theotokos Peribletos-“ The most holy who can take a look everywhere”. Build in the year 1295, this church is a pure masterpiece of the medieval sacred architecture. But more than that , the most incredible elements are the frescos inside this church, painted in the same year by Michael and Eutychios . Actually, at the end of the 13th century, before any similar artistic movements on Italian soil, exactly 10 years before the first fresco-painting of Giotto in Padua’s Arena Chapel (1305), the name of god will be glorified in Ohrid with frescos containing exclusive elements of the earliest start.
Festival program will be held on the main square in Durres and Ohrid.
Program
14.06. Tuesday
13.00.Arrivalin Durres, hotel accommodation and free time (beach time)
18.00 – 19.00 Dinner (buffet) in hotel
15.06 Wednesday
09-11.00 Breakfast
11.00 -15.00 Visit – sightseeing Durres
15.00-19.00 Beach time
19.00-21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Welcome reception
16.06. Thursday
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast - buffet
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 12-15 minutes
23.00 Disco party (optional)
17.06 Friday
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 – 23.00 Parade and Second festival evening
18.06 Saturday
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 Gala evening in hotel Bonita where each group should perform with short choreography of 5 minutes, also with few people of the 8 – 10 dancers , whether in live or in playback each group at the beginning will give 5 minutes performance. At the same night we will give certificates and gifts for each participant group
19.06. Sunday
09.00 – 11.00 Breakfast - buffet
11.30 – 14.00 Departure to Ohrid city
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel
15.00 – 19.00 Free activities (sunbathing and swimming)
19.30 Defile in old city
20.00 - 23.00 Festival evening
20.06. Monday
09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast
11.00 – 15.30 Cruising with boat on Ohrid Lake, visit Museum on water and most famous tourist resort St.Naum monastery, culture place, – (price 8 euro per person, lunch packet from hotel, dancing boat),
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00.- 00.00 Disco party
21.06 Tuesday
09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast ,
11.00 – 14.00 Visiting Stara carsia, oldest tree called – Cinar, Biljanini izvori, Ohrid pearl manufactory, shopping….. or visiting Struga city,
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and beach time
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 – 23.00 Macedonian evening party
22.06 Wednesday
09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast
11.00 Departure
General rules :
- is a non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances, choral groups and majorette teams.
- 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).
- On the festival may participate children, youth and adults folklore dance groups, modern dance groups, vocal groups, instrumental groups and soloists, as well as groups and performers from other art styles.
- The number of participants are limited (only 3 groups from each country),
- Each group should consist of most 50 members including dancers, managers and musicians,
- Ensemble should have prepared at least 2 folk dances, 10-15 minutes each with orchestra or CD. 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 photos of the group,
- To take a flag of the country,
- Folklore groups should have there own transport for arrival and departure,
Participation fee
- 95 Euro for 4 HB per person (4 nights with 2 meals (buffet) per day)
- 65 Euro for 3 HB per person (3 nights with 3 meals per day)
Total: 7 nights- 8 days is 159 euro, Two countries and two cities…
It covers hotel accommodation 4 HB with 2 meals per day in 3*** hotel BONITA in 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 bedrooms with own toilet) Hotel Bonita is 3*** see resort situated on the famous sands beach, with capacity of 500 beds so the number of participants is limited
Hotel BONITA *** (hotel resort on the sea coast) – www.bonita.al
In Ohrid it will be in hotel Desaret (hotel on the Lake with outdoor swimming pool)
HOTEL DESARET *** (HOTEL Lake resort on the coast) www.hoteldesaret.com.mk
Festival organizers provide:
- for 21 dancers – one gratis,
- souvenir and gift for each group,
- Certificate for attendance,
- Welcome reception
- Gala evening with drinks
- tourist guides for sightseeing of the town,
- free parking
- advertising of the festival (press conference, radio and tv channels, 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.
After Groups arrived in Hotel will be given detailed program of the festival and each group will have guide during festival.
After the festival finish organizers will send you DVD from the festival program for each group and photos..
Confirmation should be send till 15 February 2016 sending participation form – Form of attendance of the festival by e-mail: durresfestival@gmail.com ; zoran.strezovski@gmail.comoffice.wofa@gmail.com
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.
Any group should confirm by the Form of attendance and after confirmation it should paid a vans of 300 euros on account of organizers until 25 February 2016. The rest of money should be paid after the group arrived in hotel in Durres. In case of cancellation, a vans will be not refund.
In 2015 on the festival were participated 10 groups from 8 EU country with 312 participants.
Organizer of the International music festival in Durres, Albania is “WOFA” –World Festival Association in cooperation with Center of Culture in Durres.