Director: Mr. Zoran Strezovski With pleasure we INVITE you (children, youth and adults groups), (Folk ensembles,Choral groups,majorette teams and modern dance groups) to participate on VI International music & folk – dance festival “MUSIC DANCE AND LAKE” 28 April - 02 May, Ohrid, 2018. 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. However, Ohrid is the only place in the world where 2 recognized saints actually lived in the same time - St. Kliment of Ohrid (840-916) and St.Naum of Ohrid (830-910), putting an extremely strong stamp of their existence. These 2 exceptional persons, the very best students of Cyril and Methodius, were in fact the most educated people 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. kliments and St. Naum of Ohrid were investors 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. Ancient ruins, beautiful amphitheater, 3 citadel walls, St.Sofia Cathedral, many churches and monasteries, 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 seas. 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 honoring another saint), Ohrid is called “the Balkan Jerusalem”, successfully playing the role as the biggest pilgrimage spot for all the Orthodox Christian in the world. In 1979 and in 1980, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In fact, Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are both Cultural and Natural sites. 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. For more information visit www.ohridinfo.mk Festival program will be held on the main square in Ohrid. General rules : The number of groups participants of the festival are not limited. 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). 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 - 15 minutes each with orchestra or CD. The Choral groups - two parts from 12 – 18 minutes free program. 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: 59 Euro per person for 3 nights Half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner) 79 Euro per person for 4 nights Half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner) 66 Euro per person for 3 nights Full board accommodation (3 meals per day) 86 Euro per person for 4 nights 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, 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 Montenegrin (hotel on the Center of the city) – www.montenegrininn.com Hotel De Lux apartment (in the center of the city) Vila& restaurant “Fortuna” (in the center of the city) Hotel Cingo (4* hotel) Festival organizers provide: For 21 dancers – one gratis; Souvenir and gift for each group; Certificate for attendance, 2 double rooms per group with no supplement to be paid (one for the leaders of the group and another for the drivers of the bus). The rest of the rooms are with 3 and 4 beds; 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 Welcome cocktail; Disco party with drinks; Drinks during the performance; Tourist guides for sightseeing of the town; Free parking; Reception in city hall; Advertising of the festival (press release, news letter, posters); DVD and photos of the festival; For the groups arriving by plane we will organize transfer from the Ohrid airport to the hotel free of charge. Program: 28.04 Saturday 13.00 - Arrival in Ohrid, hotel accommodation. 14.00 - 15.00 - Lunch in hotel and free activities. 19.00 - 20.00 - Dinner in hotel. 21.00 - Welcome reception. 29.04 Sunday 09.00 - 11.00 - 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. 17.00 - 18.30 - Dinner in hotel. 19.00 - Ensembles parade (old town). 19.30 - Official opening of the festival - Welcome speech and firework - Open air performance - Dancing together 30.04 Monday 09.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast. 10.30 - 14.00 - Visiting Stara carsia, oldest tree called – Cinar, Biljanini izvori, Ohrid pearl, old paper manufactory, shopping….. or VISITING STRUGA CITY, 14.00 - 15.00 - Lunch in hotel. 17.00 - 18.30 - Dinner in hotel. 19.00 - Ensemble parade. 19.30 - Second festival evening (optional) or Macedonian evening party. 01.05 Tuesday 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 8 euros per person, lunch packet from hotel, dancing boat), 19.00 - 20.00 - 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. 02.05 Wednesday 09.00 - Breakfast. 11.00 - Departure of the participants. 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 21 Euro per day per person FB – price is special for the participants in festivals that we can provide. Organizers keep the right to change program of the festival. 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 airport, during the festival days and back to the airport. You can also arrive through Skopje, Tirana (Albania) or Thessaloniki (Greece) 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 by plane in Ohrid airport and we will organize free transport to the hotel. By applying you confirm that you accept all festival conditions. All detailed information will be supply after your confirmation for participations. In 2016 we had 7 groups with 224 participants from 6 EU countries. In 2017 we had 9 groups with 298 participants (children, youth and adults) from 8 countries. For submitted application from 24th of November 2017 till 24th of December 2017 you will receive 5% discount. Any group willing to participate must submit an Application form. Approved groups pay in advance a 10% guarantee fee, which is to be deducted at the final payment.