WorldFestivalAssociation

                                          INVITATION

We are inviting you  you on the International festival “INTERFOLK in Russia” which will take place in St. Petersburg (Russia) from November 12 to November 15, 2020 with the support of Committee for culture of St. Petersburg.

The Festival is aimed at promoting the interaction between cultures in the field of folk art. The main idea is to bring together the groups and ensembles from around the world in St. Petersburg in order to further the cross-enrichment of cultures and promote international cultural cooperation.

Another objective of the Festival is to hand national traditions down to younger generations, so that they would keep the national heritage and develop new forms of intercultural dialogue.

Partners:

European Association of Folklore Festivals

Saint-Petersburg District Administrations

Interregional Union of Concert Workers

The Russian Museum of Ethnography

«Kaskad» Cultural Centre, Peterhof

Creative Association «Art Attaché»

Participants:

• Vocal groups: choirs and ensembles (no age and number limit);
• Dance groups (no age and number limit);
• Instrumental groups: orchestras and ensembles (no age and number limit)
• Groups enacting parts of folk ceremonies, rituals, popular games, etc. (no age and number limit);

Program:

Conditions:

• All participants pay their travel expenses. The Organising Committee provides hotel accommodation, transfers and cultural program (excursions) by festival packages (see below);
• Participant groups are to submit materials to be used in posters, booklets and catalogues of the Festival for information purposes; each team will receive free catalogues;
• Participants can take part in Opening gala with one piece up to 3 minutes and in concerts of the Festival, overall time of performance about 15 minutes (one concert minimum);
• All participants of the Festival are to submit their audio or video records to organizers (CDs may be mailed by post, and certain tracks may be sent by e-email);
• Each participant group will receive a diploma and a souvenir of the Festival;
• All the Festival events will be covered by press, radio and TV programs; participants’ information submitted to the Organising Committee will be used in Festival advertising materials;
• A delegation may include not only artists, but also accompanying persons. No limitations on number of artists and accompanying persons;
• The participants can arrive some days before the festival and depart some days after event;
• Each participant group is welcome to choose: participation in the Festival only, participation both in the Festival and in the Competition, participation in the Competition only. The group’s choice and decision must be stated in the application form.

Participants of competition:

• Vocal groups performing national and folklore music: choirs and ensembles
• Dance groups performing traditional and stylization national dances
• Instrumental groups: orchestras and ensembles, performing national music
• Groups enacting parts of folk ceremonies, rituals, popular games, etc.

Categories for competition:

CATEGORY А: vocal groups, folklore groups, authentic folklore (choirs and ensembles)

А-1 – folklore groups, authentic folklore, age 7–12

А-2 – folklore groups, authentic folklore, age 13–17

A-3 – folklore groups, authentic folklore, age 18–45

A-4 – folklore groups, authentic folklore, the age after 45

CATEGORY B: vocal groups, modern arrangement of folklore music (choirs and ensembles)

B-1 – modern arrangement of national and traditional music, age 7–12

B-2 – modern arrangement of national and traditional music, age 13–17

B-3 – modern arrangement of national and traditional music, age 18–45

B-4 – modern arrangement of national and traditional music, the age after 45

CATEGORY С: mixed ensembles (vocal-instrumental, vocal-dances, instrumental-dances)

С-1 – mixed ensembles, age 7–12

С-2 – mixed ensembles, age 13–17

С-3 – mixed ensembles, age 18–45

С-4 – mixed ensembles, the age after 45

CATEGORY D: choreographic ensembles and pairs (national and traditional dances, modern stylization)

D-1 – choreographic ensembles and pairs, age 7–12

D-2 – choreographic ensembles and pairs, age 13–17

D-3 – choreographic ensembles and pairs, age 18–45

D-4 – choreographic ensembles and pairs, the age after 45

CATEGORY E: instrumental ensembles and orchestras (national music and modern stylization)

E-1 – instrumental ensembles and orchestras, age 7–12

E-2 – instrumental ensembles and orchestras, age 13–17

E-3 – instrumental ensembles and orchestras, age 18–45

E-4 – instrumental ensembles and orchestras, the age after 45

Every group can include other age of participants but no more than 30% from full group.

Contest procedure:

The competition includes two rounds:

Each participant group has a rehearsal (stage trial).

The schedule of their trials is devised by the secretary IN ADVANCE (before the participants’ arrival).

Contest is open for general public.

For the First Round artists will present one (1) or two (2) varies works based on traditional (or modern arrangement of national) material of any country up to 10 minutes.

Upon completion of the first round the jury will make decision as to winners and diploma holders of contest, and will award special prizes:

Attention! The Results of the contest and the awarding will be held during the 2nd round.

Announcement of nominees for the Grand Prix will take place at the "Evening of Friendship".

Evaluation criteria:

• Performing skills. Technique/perfection (maximum 60 points);
• Artistic merit (imagery and image creation, emotionality, artistry) (maximum 60 points);
• Presentation of program (costumes, traditional music instruments, originality of direction) (maximum 60 points);

Contest is open for general public.

Only Winners with Gold diplomas will pass in the second round (the winners with Silver diplomas can participate by jury decision). The group will perform one piece not more that 4 minutes.

By results of the second round the best group will be awarded:

Technical conditions:

All competitors are in the same conditions. Organizing committee provides:

• Piano (other musical instruments to be provided by the participants themselves)

• Vocal and instrumental microphones;

• CD player;

NOTICE! Phonogram (+) for vocal groups in CATEGORY A, B and C is NOT ALLOWED!

The open fire is not permitted during the performance!

Participation fee:

(for participants and accompanying persons)

Festival Package A

• 140 Euro per person in standard rooms per person (4* hotel, BB in the city)
• 155 Euro per person in standard rooms per person (4* hotel, BB on competition place)

Festival package A includes:

• 3 nights in standard twin/double rooms, bathrooms available
• 3 (three) breakfasts on buffet
• transfer “airport-hostel-airport” with guide
• sightseeing city tour by bus with guide (St. Petersburg)
• public concerts with other groups, transfers to the concert venues
• Participation in one category of competition
• complete set of festival information materials
• one free leader for group of 25 persons (25+1)

Festival Package B

• 170 Euro per person in standard rooms per person (4* hotel in the city, with dinners)
• 185 Euro per person in standard rooms per person (4* hotel on competition place, with dinners)

Festival Package B includes:

• 3 nights in standard twin/double rooms, bathrooms available
• 3 (three) breakfasts on buffet
• transfer “airport-hostel-airport” with guide
• 3 (three) dinners on buffet
• sightseeing city tour by bus with guide (St. Petersburg)
• public concerts with other groups, transfers to the concert venues
• Participation in one category of competition
• complete set of festival information materials
• one free leader for group of 25 persons (25+1)

FEE for participation in competition in case of second or another supplementary category:

Duets (pairs) and trio – 30 euro

Group of less than 12 members – 80 euro (per group)

Group from 13 members and more – 110 euro (per group)

The participants pay the contest fee no later than October 15, 2020.

In case of refusal to participate in the competition after October 15, the fee is not refund.

The Organizing Committee will send the bank details upon receiving the application form.