XXII International Folk - Dance & Music Festival OHRID FESTIVAL DAYS
Location: OHRID , Macedonia
Director: Z.S. & WOFA
Application Deadline: 1 October, 2023
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 International folk – dance & music festival “OHRID DANCE” 16– 20 August, Ohrid 2024
The Festival light motive is to present the cultural tradition of different countries and regions, and to provide an opportunity for the members of groups to get together, to establish friendships and culture presentation trough dance, music..
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.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. 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..
Ancient ruins, beautiful amphitheatre, 3 citadel walls, St.Sofia Cathedral, St.Jovan Kaneo church, St.Naum monaster (one of the most beautiful monasteries in Macedonia and an important pilgrimage place. Breathtaking setting on a plateau over Ohrid Lake and Galicica mountain towering from behind.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 sea. 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 honouring another saint), Ohrid is called “the Balkan Jerusalem”, successfully playing the role as the biggest pilgrimage spot for all the Orthodox Christians in the world.
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 70 members including dancers, managers, musicians and family members
- 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 a capela 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
Program:
17.08.Day 1
13.00 Arrival in Ohrid, hotel accommodation
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Welcome reception with leaders of the groups
18.08 Day 2
18.00 –10.00 Breakfast
10.00 -14.00 Ohrid sightseeing – visiting Ethno museum (1 euro), Visiting exhibition “Ohrid in past” with degustation of wine,rakija or soft drink, (1 euro), visiting cultural monuments (St.Sofia church, Samoil fortress – entres 1 euro, Antique theatre, Plaosnik- St.Kliment church – enter 1 euro, 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
19.08 Day 3
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 12 euros per person, lunch packet on the boat)
18.00 – 19.30 Dinner in hotel
20.00 Defile and Second festival evening or Macedonian evening party (optional)
20.08.Day 4
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. – 00.00 Party in hotel
21.08 Day 5
09.00 Breakfast
11.00 Departure of the participants
OPTIONAL – If you stay more days…
21.08 Day 5
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 hotel and free activities
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00. – 00.00 Firewall party
21.08.Day 6
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
Participation fee:
- 79 euro per person for 3 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)
- 102 euro per person for 4 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)
- 92 Euro per person for 3 nights on full board accommodation (3 meals per day).
- 116 Euro per person for 4 nights on full board accommodation (3 meals per day).
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 3 and 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).
NOTE: Macedonian tourist tax is 1 euro per person per day and it is paid additional
On your request we can arrange 4* hotel and inform you how much it will cost..
Visit:
Hotel Montenegrin (hotel on the Centre of the city) – www.montenegrininn.com
Hotel De Lux apartment ( in the centre of the city)
Hotel Desaret is 3* hotel on the lake with outdoor swimming pool and only our organization has right of this hotel. Meals are open buffet and price is:
- 82 euro 3 HB per person (3 nights with 2 meals per day (Half Board)
- 118 euro 4 HB per person (4 nights with 2 meals per day (Half Board).
- 104 euro 3 FB per person (3 nights with 3 meals per day (Full Board)
- 124 euro 4 FB per person (4 nights with 3 meals per day (Full Board).
https://desaret-hotel.hellomacedonia.com/en/
Participation fee inculdes:
- for 22 dancers – one gratis (20+1),
- souvenir and gift for each group,
- Certificate for attendance,
- Welcome cocktail
- drinks during the performance,
- free parking
- advertising of the festival (social media promotion, posters, e-flayers)
- Professional stage where concert performances take place, size: 10x8 meters
- Professional sound equipment: (2 bass speakers, 4 satellite speakers, 2 monitor speakers…)
- Professional light equipment
For the groups arriving by plane we will organize transfer from the Ohrid airport to the hotel free of charge
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.
n your request, You can continue your stay in Ohrid. Price will be 33 Euro per day per person FB and 29 for HB – 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 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 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 2017 on this Festival participated over 420 (children’s, youth and adults) from 5 countries of South – East and central Europe.
In 2018 on this Festival participated over 450 (children’s, youth and adults) from 8 countries of South – East and central Europe.
In 2019 on this Festival participated over 472 (children’s, youth and adults) from 9 countries of South – East and central Europe
Number of participants is limited on 400 or 10 groups!
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NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Published on 19.08.2019
MORE THAN 400 PARTICIPANTS TOOK PART IN "OHRID FESTIVAL DAYS" IN OHRID
From 15 - 19 august in Ohrid was realized 11 edition of Ohrid Festival days festival..on the festival were participated 10 ensembles from Croatia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Cyprus,Romania..with over 400 participants.
Welcome reception with leaders of the groups were in hotel Desaret on 15 august and the festival evening was on the amin stage in Ohrid on 16 august where all groups show there dances and songs in front of amny tourists and citizens of Ohrid..after performance director of the festival Mr Zoran Strezovski on the stage award them with sertificate and presents..
Final party with all participants was in hotel Desaret on the beach on 17 august.During the day they have swimming ain wonderfull Ohrid lake and visiting Ohrid and St Naum with boat..
Some moment of the fetsival (photos) on the link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/14j1kXrEdm7UDwUF9peB0A75NODUxX-H0
NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Published on 21.08.2018
PERFORMERS FROM 6 COUNTRIES TOOK PART IN THE "OHRID FESTIVAL DAYS" FESTIVAL
Ohrid Festival Days" were held in the period 16-20 August in Ohrid. 11 ensembles from Bulgaria, Latvia, Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania and Croatia took part in the International folklore dance and music festival.
Directors of groups were welcomed by the director of the festival Zoran Strezovski, who wished them successful presentation.
"Festival evening was held on the main stage on the square of Ohrid where all the ensembles had the opportunity to perform in front of many audience and foreign tourists.
Festival finished with great party with all participants where we gave them certificates for participation and gifts from the festival. During other days they had time to visit beautiful city of Ohrid and to swim in Ohrid lake.", said the director Zoran Strezovski.
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Reviews from the groups:
This festival has review of 6 groups and average estimation is EXELLENT - 9,0/10