XI INTERNATIONAL FOLK-DANCE & MUSIC FESTIVAL

XI INTERNATIONAL FOLK-DANCE & MUSIC FESTIVAL "OHRID SUN"

Application Form Date: 16 - 20 August, 2018
Location: OHRID, Macedonia
Director: Zoran Strezovski and WOFA
Application Deadline: 5 January, 2025

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

I N V I T A T I O N

With pleasure we INVITE you (FOLK ENSEMBLES, CHORAL GROUPS, ORCHESTRAS, MAJORETTE TEAMS, MODERN DANCE GROUPS) (CHILDREN, YOUTH & ADULTS GROUPS) to participate on XI International Folk –Dance & Music festival “Ohrid Sun” which will be held on 16 – 20 August 2018.

Ohrid today is a cultural, spiritual and tourist centre. It is the famous tourist place in Macedonia but also in the region. During this period there are a lot of tourists from Holland, Finland, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Turkey …Due to exceptional beauty Ohrid is protected in this period is the best tourist resort in Macedonia. It is the famous tourist place in the region with a lot of hotels, apartments, a lot of traditional restaurants and café, shops, entertainment. Ohrid during the summer period lives 24 hours.
Ohrid lake coast is 35km with beautifully sands beach, tourist attractions and entertainment. Temperature of the water in the lake is 25C degree and it is suitable for swimming, diving, yachting …..
Also Ohrid is one of the oldest settlements in Macedonia. According to famous television game show “who wants to be a millionaire “ in 2007 on British Television ,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 than 8.000 years. Here in Ohrid, from its beginning until today, life still goes on, without ending.That is why it‘s also called “the kingdom of archaeologists”.
However, Ohrid is the only place in the world where 2 recognized saints actually lived in the same time - St. Clement of Ohrid (840-916) and St.Naum of Ohrid (830-910), putting an extremely strong stamp of their existence.
These 2 exceptional persons, the best students of Cyril and Methodius, were in fact the most educated persons 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. Clement and St.Naum of Ohrid were founders 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. More information on www.ohridinfo.mk
Festival program will be held on the main square in Ohrid.

General rules:

Every 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).
This is a non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances and music performed by groups.
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 12-18 minutes each with orchestra or USB.
The Choral groups -two parts from 12 – 18 minutes free program (one performance acapela in old city (churches) and one performance on the stage with sound equipment)..
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. Also, we will choose the best girl's and men's folk costume and the best dancing couple.
To send us short CV and photos of the group,
To take a flag of the country,
Ensembles should have there own transport for arrival and departure,

Participation fee:

68 Euro: 3 FB per person (3 nights with 3 meals per day (Full Board)).
88 Euro: 4 FB per person (4 nights with 3 meals per day (Full Board)).

Participation fee includes:

It covers hotel accommodation with 3 meals per day in 3*** hotels which are located on the coast of Ohrid Lake with own beach, in 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 bedrooms with own toilet and bathrooms and hotels in the centre of the city……
Hotel Desaret is 3* Lake resort with outdoor swimming pool and it has 550 beds so the 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 Prestol (hotel on the Lake) - www.hotelprestol.com.mk,
Hotel Beton (hotel on the Lake) - www.hotelbeton.com.mk,
Hotel Plaza (hotel on the Lake)- www.galebiplaza.com.mk,
Hotel Montenegrin (hotel on the Centre of the city) – www.montenegrininn.com
Hotel De Lux apartment ( in the centre of the city)
Vila& restaurant “Fortuna” ( in the centre of the city)

Festival organizers provide:

for 22 dancers – one gratis,
souvenir and gift for each group,
Welcome cocktail
Disco party with drink
certificates for attendance on the festival,
tourist guides for sightseeing of the town,
drinks during the performance,
free bus parking
reception in city hall,
advertising of the festival (press conference, radio and tv channels, posters.

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE FESTIVAL IN 2016 YOU CAN SEE ON LINK: https://youtu.be/MK85OjLZMds

Program:

16.08. Thursday
13.00 Arrival in Ohrid after 13.00 and hotel accommodation, free activities (swimming in Ohrid Lake)
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel
19.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Welcome reception

17.08. Friday

09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast,
10.00 – 13.00 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
18.00 – 19.00 Dinner in hotel
19.30 Ensembles parade (old town)
20.00 Official opening of the festival

Welcome speech and firewall
Open air performance
Dancing together

18.08 Saturday
09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast,
10.00 – 13.00 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 free activities (sunbathing),
18.00 – 19.00 Dinner in hotel
20.00 – 23.00 Second festival evening (optional) or Macedonian evening party

19.08. Sunday /
09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast,
11.00 – 16.00.Cruising with boat on Ohrid Lake, visit Museum on water and most famous tourist resort St.Naum-culture place, also swimming in most popular beach –(price 8 euros per person),(lunch package, dancing boat),
20.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 – 00.00 Closing ceremony of the festival- organizers give certificates and presents for the groups than exchange presents and disco party with all participants with wine degustation and soft drink for the kids

20.08. Monday / .

09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast,
11.00 Departure of the participants

OPTIONAL – If you stay more days…
20.08 Monday
09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast,
10.30 – 14.00 Visiting Struga city (house of Miladinovci brothers, river Crni Drim, Church in Kalsita……),
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and free activities,
18.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Festival evening in Struga city or Macedonian evening party

21.08. Thursday /
09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast,
10.30 – 14.00 Free activities (sunbathing and swimming in Ohrid Lake, walking in the city square… ) or visiting Vevcani (ethno village) ,
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and free activities,
20.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 – 00.00 Beach party

22.08 Wednesday /
08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast,
09.00 – 14.00 Departure to Skopje city ( visiting monuments of Aleksandar of Macedon, museum, Macedonian GATE, Stone bridge…)
14.00 Departure from Skopje city

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.

On your request, You can continue your stay in Ohrid. Price will be 23 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.
After Groups arrived in Hotel will be given detailed program 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 in Ohrid airport by plane and we will organize transfer from the airport to the hotel free of charge.

All detailed information will be supply after your confirmation for participations.

In 2016 on this festival participated over 365 participants from 10 countries from Europe.
In 2017 on this festival participated over 394 participants from 11 countries from Europe.

NUMBER OF SEATS IS LIMITED!

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