Director: Mr. Zoran Strezovski With pleasure We INVITE you (folk groups, Choral groups and orchestras majorette teams), (children, youth and adults groups) to participate on VII International Music & Folk - Dance festival “STARI GRAD” 12 - 15 April, Budva, Kotor, Herceg Novi, Montenegro 2018 Participants are ensembles from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia, Romania, Slovenia, Italy, Sweden, Moldavia, Armenia, Croatia, Czech, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary… 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 Budva – Stari grad One of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast, first mentioned in historical records more than two and a half thousand years ago as the “town of Illyria,” this is a place that must be visited during a stay in the Riviera. A legend tells that Budva was established by Cadmus, a son of the Phoenician king, Agenor, and his Queen, Telephassa. Cadmus was the conqueror and ruler of the Greek province of Boeotia and, when he was exiled from the city of Thebes, together with his wife Harmonia, he found refuge with an Illyrian tribe called the Enchelei. According to the legend, Cadmus arrived with a team of oxen, which is where Budva got its name from (bous is Greek for ox). The older names of Budva were Butua, Buthos, Butoba and Civitas Antique (the Old Town). Throughout history, it has been a target of different conquerors (Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Saracens, Turks, Venetians, Austro-Hungarians, French...) and as a result it has belonged to many different states. The Old Town is a unique architectural and urban whole, surrounded by medieval walls, complete with a fortress, towers and gates. During the course of its history, the Old Town suffered the greatest damage in an earthquake in 1667, while the consequences of the 1979 earthquake were also serious. Along the narrow streets and on the small piazzas and squares, there are lines of cafes, boutiques, bars, restaurants, galleries... while the town becomes a genuine “Theatre City” during the summer months, thanks to the numerous plays, concerts and exhibitions it plays host to. This is also the name of the festival which has been enriching this old costal town since 1987, lending it a special colour and charm. Its many religious buildings – the oldest church of Santa Maria in Punta, the Church of St John and the Church of St Sabbas the Sanctified – have the special value. Next to the Church of St John are the remains of an early Christian basilica while the remains of the Church of St Maria are located on the Citadela. Between the churches is a stage for the plays of the “Theatre City”. Original Roman columns, set into the walls of Budva’s oldest gate, can also be seen in the Old Town. Kotor – Old city On the space of irregular triangular forme on the slopes of the hill of St John, arrounded by city-walls, limited on north by the flow of short but violent river Skurda (300 meters long!) as well from west and south by the sea-shore and submarine spring Gurdic, on the alluvial bottom with the surface approximatively similar to the present, was performed the process of the formation of oldest urban core of Kotor, with its irregular plan of city streets, considerably different of typical scheme of rectangular street’s net gived by the Roman urban and building genius to the civilisation, by which the streets must to chop one other in a right angle (90 grades), forming rectangular or square »insulas« , the blocks with one-storied or poly-storied architecture. Meanwhile, in Kotor is present the sense of irregularity and anusuality in the town-planing, which is never existing, but it is all made »ad hoc« , by the momentaneous necessities, although Kotor even in 14th century had the regles of the building in the urban core in its own city Statute. Old urban matreix, defined during the 13th and 14th centuries and specialy after the Venetian occupation in early 15th century, was almost completely destroyed by strong earthquakes in 16th century (in l537 and 1563) and more worse in the bigest, so-called »Dubrovnik earthquake« in 1667, when were demolished about two thirds of all buildings in the town. After it, over of that inherited matrix was cast a new one, but with all older irregularities and increased wresting of whole postulates of architecture. For that reason, the urban core of Kotor now represente an intricate knot of narrow, winding streets and irregular squares, thrown on the urban core without any order. More info on http://www.tokotor.me/en/mm-post-stranice/stari-grad/ Herceg Novi The centre of Herceg Novi is Stari Grad, decorated by buildings dating back to the epochs of Sahat – Kula (1667) and Kanli – Kula (1483). Fortress Spanjola (1538) and Fortress Forte Mare (1687) are only a part of the cultural heritage of this renowned town. Full of thick greenery, Herceg Novi hides numerous kinds of tropical flowers. Towards the end of January the town becomes scented with the subtle fragrance of yellow and green mimosas and the festival of Praznik Mimosa is dedicated to this flower. During the summer months many festivals are organised to further enrich the tourist offer of this enchanted town. The beginnings of the Herceg Novi tourism are connected to the XIX century. Back at that time the tavern of Sjora Roza and the café “Bella Vista” are mentioned. Still, the precursor of the modern hotel keeping on the Montenegrin coats is thought to be the Hungarian nobleman Antal Magyar from Budapest, who in the 1902 built a “Boarding house on the green beach” in Zelenika, which later became hotel “Plaza” (BEACH) – Zelenika. Program: 12.04. Thursday 13.00 Arrival in Budva, hotel accommodation and free time 19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel (open buffet in hotel Loza) 21.00 Welcome reception with leaders of the group 13.04. Friday 09.00 - 11.00 Breakfast, (open buffet in hotel Loza) 11.00 - 14.00 Budva sightseeing – Stari Grad with boat trip to St.Stefan (optional) 18.00 - 19.30 Dinner in hotel (open buffet in hotel Loza) 19.30 - 23.00 Ensembles parade (old town) - Official opening of the festival - welcome speech - open air performance - Dancing together 14.04 Saturday 09.00 - 10.00 Breakfast, (open buffet in hotel Loza) 10.00 – 18.00 Visiting Kotor or Dubrovnik, Croatia, Herceg Novi (optional) 18.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel (open buffet in hotel Loza) 21.00 - 00.00 Closing ceremony of the festival – certificates and presents for ensembles by organizer, exchange presents between leaders of ensembles and party with all participants 15.04 Sunday 09.00 - 10.00 Breakfast, (open buffet in hotel Loza) 11.00 Departure of the participants OPTIONAL – If you stay more days… 15.04 Sunday 09.00 - 10.00 Breakfast, (open buffet in hotel Loza) 11.00 – 16.00 Visiting Sv.Stefan by boat (optional) or walking in the old city (stari grad) in Budva in nice restaurant 19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel (open buffet in hotel Loza) 21.00 – 00.00 Firewall party 16.04. Tuesday 08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast, 11.00 Departure of participants General rules: Non-competitive sample of traditional and modern dances, choral groups, majorette teams, orchestras, brass bands. 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). On the festival may participate 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 dances, 10-15 minutes each with USB or orchestra. 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. Number of groups to participate on the festival is limited on mostly 12 groups and 450 participants. To send us short CV ( 5- 6 sentences on English) and 2 – 3 photos of the group. To take a flag of the country. Folklore groups should have there own transport for arrival and departure. For the festival evening no need transfer by bus. Participation fee: 72 Euro for 3 HB per person ( 3 nights with 2 meals per day- open buffet) 92 Euro for 4 HB per person (4 nights with 2 meals per day (Half Board). It covers hotel accommodation in 3* hotel- Hotel Loza,or hotel Velzon with 2 meals per day in (two double rooms for leaders and drivers), 1/3 or 1/4 bedrooms with own toilet, Hotel Loza situated in the centre of the city with public bus parking which is free of charge) www.hotelloza-budva.com Organizer provide for each group 2/2 rooms (for drivers and leaders of the group). Supplement for other double rooms is 5 euro per person per day. - Montenegro Tourist tax is 1 euro per person per day and you pay additional when you arrive in hotel. Participation fee includes: For 21 dancers – one gratis (21 paying + 1 free of charge), Souvenir and gift for each group, Welcome cocktail for Welcome reception, Certificate for attendance, Tourist guide for the city Drinks during the performance, Free parking for bus, Advertising of the festival (press release, news letter, FB promotion, posters and flayers). 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 Budva for Price of 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. After the festival finish organizers will send you link on YouTube where you can find and download photos and videos of festival evenings. 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 Tivat airport, during the festival days and back to the same airport. 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 2016 on this Festival participated over 330 (children’s, youth and adults) participants from 8 countries of Europe. In 2017 on this Festival participated over 360 (children’s, youth and adults) participants from 9 countries of Europe. Number of participants is limited on 400 or 10 groups. 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.