WorldFestivalAssociation

                                          I N V I T A T I O N

    With pleasure we INVITE you (FOLK ENSEMBLES, CHORAL GROUPS AND MAJORETTE TEAMS) (children, youth and adults groups) to participate on  XII International folk – dance & music festival “OHRID FEST”   06– 10 July, Ohrid, 2018

  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.

    Ohrid City – a mixture of rich history and modern life......

  Ohrid is an immortal town on the mythical Balkan, a magical hill of Macedonia whose primordial pulsation links ancient and modern times forever... Ohrid has been a living town for 2400 years, notable for having 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and is referred to as the Macedonian Jerusalem. Archaeological finds indicate that Ohrid is one of the oldest human settlements in all of Europe. The lake itself is over three million years old. Ohrid in the past was known as Lychnidos - or, “the city of light.” Only much later, in 879 CE, was it renamed Ohrid. The name probably derives from the phrase “Oh-rid” – meaning roughly, “Oh, what a cliff!” It comes from the time when the town was limited in a small area on the lake side of the hill, which in fact is a huge cliff rising above the lakeshore. The town as we know it today was built mostly between the 7th and 19th centuries. During the Byzantine period, Ohrid became a significant cultural and economic center, serving as an episcopal center of the Orthodox Church and as the site of the first Slavic university run by St. Kliment and St. Naum at the end of the 9th century. At the beginning of the 11th century, Ohrid briefly became the capital of the kingdom ruled by Car Samuil, whose fortress still presides over the city today. In 1979 and in 1980, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In fact, Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are both Cultural and Natural sites.

Lake Ohrid – The Lake That Leaves You Breathless…….

Lake Ohrid is one of the world's oldest lakes, formed millions of years ago……. Lake Ohrid rightly deserves the name “Macedonia’s freshwater sea”. Not only for its warm water blue colour, which gains its intensity from the sky blue colour, but because of its size, this lake gives an impression of being a sea. With its unique flora and fauna the lake is one of the largest biological reserves in Europe. The earliest scientific studies, undertaken in the course of the 19th century, showed that, as one of the oldest lakes in the world, it has preserved primeval life - forms which no longer exist in other places or only exist as fossils. The importance of the lake was further emphasized when it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979 and when, in 2010, NASA decided to name one of Titan's lakes after Lake Ohrid.

Lake Ohrid is one of Europe’s deepest and according to most experts the oldest lake in Europe. The importance of the lake was further emphasized when it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979. Feel Ohrid for once in your life and you already know why you will return. For more information visit www.ohridinfo.mk  Festival program will be held on the main square in Ohrid.

                                             Program Proposal

06.07. Friday

  13.00.Arrivalin Ohrid, , hotel accommodation,

14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel

19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel

21.00.  Welcome reception

07.07. Saturday

 09.00 -11.00 Breakfast,

 11.00 -14.00  Ohrid sightseeing – visiting cultural monuments (St.Sofia church, Samoil fortress, Antique theatre, Plaosnik, St. Kaneo church, Bridge of wishes  …)

   14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel

         18-19.00 Dinner in hotel

       19.00. Ensembles parade (old town)

      20.00. Official opening of the festival

               - Welcome speech and firewall

               - Open air performance

              - Dancing together

   08.07   Sunday 

 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 euros per person, lunch packet on the boat),

18.00 – 19.30 Dinner in hotel

20.00 Second festival evening (optional) or Macedonian evening party  

   09.07. Monday  

   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,

    19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel

21.00. Disco party, Social events, exchange presents,

 10.07. Tuesday

09.00 Breakfast

11.00 Departure of the participants

OPTIONAL – If you stay more days…

10.07 Tuesday

09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

 10.30 – 14.00  Visiting Struga city (house of Miladinovci brothers, river Crni Drim, Kalsita caves church……),

   14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and free activities,

   19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel

   21.00. – 00.00 Firewall party

11.07. Wednesday

08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast,

09.00 – 14.00 Departure to Skopje city with guides (visiting monuments of Alexander of Macedon, National museum of Macedonian struggle, Macedonian GATE, Stone bridge…)

14.00 Departure from Skopje city

General rules :

-         is a non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances and music ;

- Every folklore group  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 and youth 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. 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:

- 66 Euro for 3 FB per person ( 3 nights with 3 meals per day)

- 86 Euro for 4 FB per person (4 nights with 3 meals per day (Full Board). It covers hotel accommodation with 3 meals per day in  hotels and Vilas which are located on the coast of Ohrid Lake or in the center of the city in 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 bedrooms with own toilet and bathrooms……

Hotel Desaret is 3* Lake resort with outdoor swimming pool and 500 beds, so number is limited.. (Our organization has only the right to represent the hotel Desaret),

Visit:

Hotel Desaret  (hotel on the lake) – www.hoteldesaret.com.mk ,  

Hotel Plaza (hotel on the Lake)-   www.galebiplaza.com.mk ,

Hotel Kocarev -   www.hotelkocarev.com.mk ,

Hotel Montenegrin ( in the center of the city) – www.montenegrininn.com   

Hotel Makotex   (hotel on the lake)- www.makotex.com.mk/hotel/ 

Hotel De lux appartmant ( in the center of the city) 

Hotel Vila Fortuna ( in the center of the city)

On your request, You can continue your stay in Ohrid. Price will be 25 Euro per day per person FB – price is special for the participants in festivals that we can provide. For additional days we will prepare special program for you. If you wish we will include festival evening in other city.

Festival organizers provide:

For 21 dancers – one gratis

Souvenir and gift for each group

Welcome reception

Disco party with drinks

Certificates for attendance on the festival

Tourist guides for sightseeing of the town

Drinks during the performance

Free parking

Reception in city hall

Advertising of the festival (press conference, radio and tv channels, posters and flayers)

 NOTE: Tourist tax and insurance is 1 euro per day per person and it is paid additional..

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.The copy right of all video materials and pictures are ownership of the Organization of the Festival.

   The festival will organize the transport for the groups coming by plane by picking them up from Ohrid airport, during the festival days and back to the same Ohrid airport. You can also arrive through Skopje, Tirana or Thessaloniki Airport which are only 200 km from Ohrid. The cost of the transportation will be covered by the group and will be additionally agreed according to their number. We will also assist you in obtaining visa for Macedonia if necessary. Also, you can arrive by plane in Ohrid airport and we will organize free transport 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 2017 on this Festival participated over 324 (children’s, youth and adults) from 7  countries of South – East and central Europe. 

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IS LIMITED ON 400 HUNDRED OR 10 - 12 GROUPS.