XXIII International Music & Dance Festival DURRES HARMONY
Location: DURRES, Albania
Director: Z.S.& WOFA
Application Deadline: 15 November, 2024
With pleasure we INVITE (folk ensembles,choral groups,orchestras,brass bands, majorette teams..) (children, youth and adult groups ) to participate on XXIII International music & folk - dance festival “DURRES HARMONY ” 02 - 06 July , Durres, Albania 2025
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.The idea of the Festival is to bring the music closer to the people and to present the music on the streets and the squares. The festival is open for folk and choir ensembles, as well as orchestras and majorettes regardless of the members gender and age.
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about 33 km, west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically significant cities of Albania. Durrës is home to Albania’s main port, the Port of Durrës, and to the newest public university, the Aleksandër Moisiu University.Durrës is an important link to Western Europe due to its port and its proximity to the Italian port cities, notably Bari, to which daily ferries run. As well as the dockyard, it also possesses an important shipyard and manufacturing industries, notably producing leather, plastic and tobacco products. Some important buildings in Durrës include the main library, the cultural center with the Aleksandër Moisiu Theatre, the Estrada Theater, the puppet theater, and the philharmonic orchestra. There are also several museums such as the Durrës Archaeological Museum, Royal Villa of Durrës and the Museum of History (the house of Aleksandër Moisiu).
The city hosts the Durrës Ancient City Wall called also Durrës Castle while the largest amphitheatre in the Balkans is located in the city close to the harbor. This first-century construction is currently under consideration for inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The southern coastal stretch is renowned for its traditional mass beach tourism having experienced uncontrolled urban development. The city’s beaches are also a popular destination for many foreign and local tourists, with an estimated 800,000 tourists visiting annually. Many tourist from Europe spend their summer vacations on the beaches of Durrës. In contrast, the northern coastal stretch is mostly unspoiled and set to become an elite tourism destination as a number of beach resorts are being built since 2009. Neighboring districts are known for the production of good wine and a variety of foodstuffs.
General rules :
- is a non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances, brass bands, orchestras, modern dance groups, choral groups, majorette teams, instrumental groups and soloists, as well as groups and performers from other art styles.
- Every Group has the right to participate. No limit for participation.
- 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, 10-15 minutes each with orchestra or USB.
- For choral groups should prepare free program about 15 minutes Choral groups should preere 12-15 minutes free program.
- To send us short CV and 5 photos of the group,
- To take a flag of the country,
- Groups should have there own transport for arrival and departure,
- We have most groups from Bulgaria,Romania and Poland
Program
Day 1
13.00.Arrivalin Durres, hotel accommodation and free time (beach time)
18.00 – 19.00 Dinner (buffet) in hotel
21.00 Meeting with director of the festival in hotel
Day 2
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast
11.00 -15.00 Beach time or excursions
18.00 - 19.00 Dinner
21.00 Welcome party with all participoants
Day 3
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast - buffet
10.30 – 15.00 Beach time or Visiting of the history city Kruje and historic monuments and museum ( entrance 2 euro)
18.00 – 19.00 Dinner in hotel
19.30 Festival evening on the squere in Durres
Day 4
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast - buffet
10.30 – 15.00 Beach time
17.00 – 18.00 Dinner - buffet in hotel
21.00 Workshop learning different dances
Day 5
09.00 – 11.00 Breakfast - buffet
11.00 Departure of the participants
Participation fee:
- 99 euro for 3 HB per person (4 nights with 2 meals)
- 129 euro for 4 HB per person (4 nights with 2 meals)
in hotels resort like Hotel Sorrente, Hotel Kolavery resort, Orient, Hotel Blue Sky, and similar .For leaders and others in 2/2 (leaders and drivers) than triple and quadriple rooms with own toilet. Additional double rooms are on request and it is 10 euro per person per day additional paymant). Hotel resort has own swimming pool and own beach ..
Additional double rooms are on request and additional paymant of 10 euro per day day..
Video from the past festivals in Durres you can find of this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_2WBw9nwMM
Festival organizers provide:
- for 24 dancers – one gratis,
- souvenir and gift for each group,
- Certificate for attendance,
- drinks during performance
- free parking
- advertising of the festival (press release, news letters, posters)
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 Dures. Price will be 34 euro Hb in 3* hotels – price is special for the participants in festivals that we can provide.
After the festival finish organizers will send you link of the photos and videos from the festival program for each group and photos. Toursit tax and insurance is 1 euro per person per day and it is additional paymant.
HOW TO COME TO DURRES?
The festival will organize the transport for the groups coming by plane by picking them up from Tirana Airport. The cost of the transportation will be covered by the group and will be additionally agreed according to their number.Also you have Wizz Air to Ohrid Airport in Macedonia so we can make transfer to Durres.
Wizz air fly from and toTirana Airport from many destinations.
Also you can connect 2 festivals in the region like Durres,Albania and Ohrid,Macedonia or Budva,Montenegro if you come by bus.
In 2017 on the festival were participated 10 groups from 8 EU country with 377 participants.
In 2019 on the festival were participated 11 groups from 9 EU country with 414 participants.
In 2022 on the festival were participated 12 groups from 9 EU country with 500 participants.
In 2023 on the festival were participated 8 groups from 6 EU country with 400 participants.
Number of seats is limited on 400.
----------------------------
NEWS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Published on 26.08.2019
MORE THAN 400 PERFORMERS TOOK PART IN "DURRES FEST"
X International folklore and musical festival "DURRES FEST" was held in the period 21 – 25 June in Durres, Albania. More than 400 participants from 8 folk ensembles and choral groups from Poland, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in the folklore forum.On 22 August 2019 the festival evening was held on the main square in Durres – in front of the Center of Culture. There, the director of the folklore forum welcomed all participants and wished them success. The groups were awarded with certificates and many deserved applauses.The closing party was held on August 24 in a great hotel, where all participants danced until midnight.
Over the days, the artists and their artistic directors visited Durres, swam in the warm sea and enjoyed the pool of the hotel, where they were housed.
-----------------
Reviews from the groups:
This festival has review of 9 groups and average estimation is EXELLENT - 9,0/10