Director: Mr. Zoran Strezovski With pleasure we INVITE (folk ensembles, choral groups, orchestras, brass bands, majorette teams and modern dance groups) - children, youth and adult groups to participate in X International Folk – dance & music festival “PARALIA SUMMER FESTIVAL” 06 – 10 June, Paralia, Leptokaria 2019. 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. Paralia is famous holiday place on the Aegean coast of Greece with many sand beaches. Festival program will be held on the main square in Paralia and Olimpic beach. Leptokaria is 20 km from Paralia and it is famous beach place. Program: Day 1 13.00 - Arrival in Paralia, hotel accommodation and free time (beach time). 18.00 - 20.00 - Dinner in hotel. 21.00 - Welcome reception with leaders of the groups. Day 2 07.00 - 09.00 - Breakfast. 09.00 - 16.00 - Boat excursion in the blue waters of Thermaikos Gulf - 15 euro per person, including lunch and drinks on the boat. BOAT program: 09:00 - Start from the port of Paralia. 10:30 - We will make a 30min. stop on the opened sea in the high of the beach of PLAKA. Here you can swim in the crystal clear water. 11:00 - We are taking you with the small boat to the VARIKO beach, where the captain will prepare a lunch for you around. 12:45 - Grilled fish, greek salad and to drink juice or wine and ouzo. The rest of the time at the Variko beach you can spend with taking a walk, swimming, collecting shells. 14:00 - Leaving the Variko beach to Paralia. 15:00 - Making a stop on the opened sea with a possibility to swim. 15:30 - Return to the port of Paralia. 18.00 - 19.00 - Dinner in hotel. 19.30 - 23.00 - Defile and Festival evening on the square in Paralia. Day 3 08.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast. 11.00 - 17.00 - Beach time or visiting Thessalonica or Katerini (optional), or boat trip, or Meteora. 18.00 - 19.00 - Dinner in hotel. 19.30 - 23.00 - Second festival evening on the square of Olympic beach, certificate for attendance, exchange presents on the stage. Day 4 08.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast. 11.00 - 17.00 - Beach time in Leptokaria or Visiting Meteori (very famous historical place in Greece). 17.00 - 18.00 - Dinner. 21.00 - 23.00 - Greek night at the restaurant - 12 euro with drinks (optional). Day 5 08.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast. 11.30 - Departure of the participants. OPTIONAL – If you stay more days… Day 5 08.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast. 10.30 - 14.00 - Visiting Katerini or free time on the beach. 19.00 - 20.00 - Dinner in hotel. 21.00 - 00.00 - Beach party for goodbye. Day 6 08.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast. 09.00 - 14.00 - Departure to Thessalonica. General rules: Festival is a non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances, orchestras, brass bands, modern dance, choir and vocal groups. Every folklore, choral group, modern dance, majorette teams, orchestras 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). 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 dances, 12-15 minutes each with orchestra or USB. For choral groups should prepare free program about 15 minutes. 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. To send us short CV (5-6 sentences on English) and photos of the group. To have a flag of your country. Ensembles should have there own transport for arrival and departure. Participation fee: Accommodation in hotels in Paralia and Olympic Beach: 73 Euro per person for 3 nights half board (2 meals per day) 93 Euro per person for 4 nights half board (2 meals per day) Participation fee includes: It includes accommodation (leaders and drivers in 2 double rooms and others in triple and quadruple rooms) with 2 meals per day in HOTELS & APARTMENTS (like Hotel Katerina, Artemis, Hotel Ifigenia, Despina, Sunibel, Hotel Grand platon, hotel Xenia Zeus.. Other double rooms are on the request and it is 5 euro per person per day additional. Festival organizers provide: for 23 dancers – one gratis; (22+1 free) souvenir and gift for each group; welcome reception with drink for leaders of the group; certificate for attendance; tourist guides for sightseeing of the town; free parking; advertising of the festival (press release, news letter, FB promotions, 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 Paralia. Price will be 23 Euro per day per person HB – price is special for the participants in festivals that we can provide. 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 Thessaloniki Airport which are only 75 km from Paralia. 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 the festival were participated 10 groups from 8 EU country with 312 participants. In 2018 on the festival we had 11 groups from 9 EU countries and 420 participants. Number of participants is limited on 400 or 10 groups! 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.