I N V I T A T I O N

With pleasure We INVITE you (folk ensembles, modern dance groups, Choral groups, orchestras, brass bands, majorette teams), (children, youth and adults groups) to participate on  XI International  Music & Dance festival “Montenegro Music Festival - St Stefan” 28 June - 02 July , Budva, Montenegro . 

    Participants are ensembles from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia, Romania, Slovenia, Italy, Sweden, Moldavia, Armenia, Croatia, Czech, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary…

    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

Budva It is situated on the central part of Montenegrin coast, called "Budvanska Rivijera". It has developed around a small peninsula, on which the old town is situated. It is by far most visited destination in Montenegro, attracting many tourists like Russian, Serbian, Hungarian, France, Italy  and other European tourists with an old town, bars and nightclubs, and beaches mostly consisting of small rocks. It is base for mass tourism, while in its near vicinity there are luxury resorts such as Sveti Stefan and Miločer.

There are as many as 35 beaches in the Budva area, sands beaches (8 beaches are marked with blue flags).During the summer in particular, the day and night-life offers opportunities to enjoy theatre plays and performances, music events and entertainment programs.The old town is adjacent to the marina, where the wealthy come to moor their luxury yachts. The old town is beautiful, with restaurants and boutiques selling luxury goods at high prices..

Sveti Stefan', one of the most exclusive summer resorts on the Mediterranean, is a result of a modern refurbishment of the stone houses on the island, built more than five centuries ago for the population of the nearby villages to find a place of shelter from the attacks of pirates and the Turks. According to oral tradition, the Pastrovici tribe used the spoils taken from Turkish galleons to fortify the island in 1442, building 12 houses, one each for every family in the Pastovici. For nearly 300 years, it was a trade and transport centre for the Pastrovici and the seat of the Bankada – the tribal court of the Pastrovici. The village was named after the church located on the highest point of the island, dedicated to the Saint Archdeacon Stefan. The island is also home to the churches of the Resurrection and St Alexander Nevsky.Sveti Stefan had remained a fishing village for several centuries, until its depopulation began in 1950 in order to build a series of luxury suites and rooms in the old stone houses. The new hotel-town was opened on 13 July 1960 and it has since been a holiday destination for celebrities from all over the world – including Sofia Loren and Carlo Ponti, Alberto Moravia, André Malraux, Richard Widmark, Kirk Douglas, Klaus Kinski, Monica Vitti, Sylvester Stallone, Yuri Gagarin, Boris Spassky, Bobby Fisher... and members of royalty, numerous politicians and wealthy Arab Sheiks.

More information on: http://www.budva.travel/

 General rules:

 - Non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances, choral groups, majorette teams, orchestras, brass bands..

- Every Folklore, Choral group, modern dance, majorette Teams, orchestras  has the right to participate. Children's ensembles  Youth ensembles , Adult ensembles 

- On the festival may participate 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 60 members including dancers, managers, musicians and family members.

- Ensemble should have prepared at least 2 dances, 10-15 minutes each with USB or orchestra. 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.

- To send us short CV and 2 – 3 photos of the group.

- To take a flag of the country.

-  Groups should have there own transport for arrival and departure.

                       Program

 Day 1

13.00.Arrivalin Budva, hotel accommodation and fre time (swimming in the sea and sunbathing on wonderful sands beaches)

19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel 

21.00. Free time

 Day 2

08.00 -10.00 Breakfast, 

10.00 -14.00  Budva sightseeing with local guide and boat crusing to St.Stefan - (14 euro per person)

17.30.- 19.00 Dinner in hotel 

21.00. Welcome reception with leaders of the groups

 Day 3 

08.00 -09.00 Breakfast, 

09.00 – 18.00 Free time or Crusing boat trip from Budva - Tivat - Kotor (sightseeing) - Herceg Novi (sightseeing) - swimming in Blue Cave and back (25 euro per person)(optional - recomended)

17.00 – 18.30 Dinner in hotel 

19.00 - 23.00 Ensembles parade and festival evening on the squere ( certificates and presents)

Day 4 

08.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

10.00 – 18.00 Free time or Crusing boat trip from Budva - Tivat - Kotor (sightseeing) - Herceg Novi (sightseeing) - swimming in Blue Cave and back (25 euro per person)(optional - recomended) or visit Aqua park (10 euro per person)  

19.00 – 21.00 Dinner 

21.00.- 00.00 Party in discoteque (optional)

Day 5 

09.00 Breakfast 

11.00 Departure of the participants

Participation fee:

-       104 Euro for 3 HB per person ( 3 nights with 2 meals per day- open buffet)

-       145 Euro for 4 HB per person  (4 nights with 2 meals per day (Half Board).

It covers hotel accommodation in hotel apartmets Knezevic  with 2 meals per day Hotel See Star and others like them (in the center of the city)

Organizer provide for each group  2/2 rooms (for drivers and leaders of the group)..supplement for other 1/2 rooms is 10 euro per day..

Montenegro Tourist tax and insurance   (1.50 euro per person per day) you should pay additional after accommodation in hotel.

 You can see how was last year in Budva festival on folowing link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn36jy6glzI 

 Festival organizers provide:

- For 25 dancers – one free

- Souvenir and gift for each group,

- Welcome cocktail

- Certificate for attendance,

- Drinks during the performance,

- Advertising of the festival (press release,social media promotion, posters and flayers).

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 Budva for Price of 35 Euro per day per person HB – price is special for the participants in festivals that we can provide.

After the festival finish organizers will send you link of the festivals where you can  take photos and videos.

 The festival will organize the transport for the groups coming by plane by picking them up from Tivat airport, during the festival days and back to the same airport. The cost of the transportation will be covered by the group and will be additionally agreed according to their number.

 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 520 (children’s, youth and adults) participants from 10 countries of Europe.

In 2018 on this Festival participated over 640 (children’s, youth and adults) participants from 9 countries of Europe.

 In 2019 on this Festival participated over 660 (children’s, youth and adults) participants from 8 countries of Europe.

THE NUMBER OF SEATS IS LIMITED on 400 participants and 10-11 groups.

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NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL                        Published on 03 July 2019

600 PERFORMERS FELT THE SUMMER MOOD IN BUDVA, PARTICIPATING IN THE "Montenegro music fest - St Stefan"

The International music and folklore dance festival "MONTENEGRO MUSIC FESTIVAL - ST STEFAN" was held in Budva, Montenegro in the period June 24th to July 2nd. Music feast welcomed 14 ensembles from Latvia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.The successful edition of the festival gave the opportunity to more than 600 participants to present their country's cultural traditions in two concert evenings, singing and dancing.

On June 28th, a reception was held at "Loza" Hotel, where the director of the folklore festival Mr. Zoran Stresovski welcomed the leaders of the groups with a wish for a worthy presentation in front of Montenegrin audience.The festival concerts were held on June 29th and 30th. After the show, all artists receive certificates and gifts provided by the organizers. At the end of the concert program, participants danced on popular Montenegrin songs. 

In the free time, the groups took a boat trip to Boka Kotorska Bay and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Participants visited the islands St Stefan and St Nikola, they explore the Old town of Budva and enjoyed the warm Adriatic sea. The celebration continued in a large open air disco with lots of songs and dances.

NEWS ABOUT FESTIVAL                                        Published on 08.July  2017

MORE THAN 700 PARTICIPANTS IN THE “ST. STEFAN” FESTIVAL IN BUDVA (MONTENEGRO)

International Musical and Folklore Dance Festival “St. Stefan” in Budva, Montenegro gathered together 20 ensembles from 11 countries and more than 700 participants, said the director of the festival Zoran Strezovski.

“There were two festival evenings with two stages at the same time. After the parade through the main pedestrian street in Budva, the ensembles had their performance on the open stages. During the day they had the opportunity to enjoy the beach, visiting St Stefan by boat, visiting culture monuments on the old city or visiting Kotor or Dubrovnik.” – informed the organizer.On the opening ceremony of the festival, the director greeted the participants and wished them succesful performances in Budva. After each performance, the leader of each group received a certificate and present from organizers.

IX International Musical and Folklore Dance Festival “St. Stefan” was held from 29^th of June till 7^th of July 2017.

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Reviews from the groups: 

This festival has review of 7 groups and average estimation is VERY GOOD - 8,4/10