Director: Mrs. Julia Tomachkova International Competition and Festival of Folklore, Dance and Music "ISTRA SUMMER STARS" welcomes participants from all over the world in Istria - region in the northwest corner of Croatia known by its own gastronomy, world-class olive oils, wines and beaches. We invite you to Poreč - a town full of history, called as ISTRIAN JEWEL of the Adriatic coast. When staying in Zelena Resort, you'll enjoy the seaside promenade, but if you don't feel like walking, take the tourist train all the way to Trg Slobode (Freedom Square) and back. Rocky beaches around Zelena Resort are the most beautiful and by stroke of luck used mostly by the hotel guests, with plenty of spots for sunbathing and other recreating activities. Famous Croatian cultural and art workers are invited as members of the international jury. The main purpose of the International Competition and Festival of Folklore, Dance and Music "ISTRA SUMMER STARS" is to search for new talented performers, to present their skills and multicultural traditions to the audience, to make new friends with the same interests, to enrich of the multinational culture on the basis of mutual respect for the cultural traditions of all the countries and nations of the world, to popularize the children’s and youth creative work, to improve professional skills and qualifications of teachers and art leaders. Participation in the International Competition and Festival of Folklore, Music and Dance "ISTRA SUMMER STARS" will give the opportunity not only to perform on the stages in front of the international jury and the Croatian public, but also to tan and swim in the gentle Adriatic Sea, to see the unique historical and cultural monuments, such as the remains of ancient old stone paved thoroughfare of Decumanus, the Marafor square and the ruins of the temples of Neptune and Mars. In the harbor you find evidence of the Venetian dominance dating back to the 18th century, when Poreč was ruled by Napoleon and the Habsburgs. From Poreč you can take excursions to Venice, Pula and a plenty of amazing locations you can reach within a day. General information: International Competition and Festival of Folklore, Dance and Music "ISTRA SUMMER STARS" is determined for soloists, ensembles and groups of young performers from different countries of the world. The competitive program of the participants is approved by the Organizing Committee on the basis of applications received. The schedule of the competitive programme for all participants is determined in advance and depends on the age of the participants. All participants should prepare a competitive program within the time limits specified for each competitive discipline: FOLKLORE GROUPS - up to 8 minutes for 1 performance in main competitive discipline DANCE GROUPS - up to 8 minutes / max. 3 dances VOCAL GROUPS / CHORAL FORMATION / CHOIRS - up to 8 minutes ORCHESTRAS / MUSIC BANDS - up to 8 minutes THEATERS - up to 8 minutes for 1 performance in main competitive discipline FASHION THEATERS & MODELS SCHOOLS - up to 8 minutes SMALL FORMS (up to 10 performers) - up to 7 minutes TRIOS & QUARTETS - up to 5 minutes in main competitive discipline SOLOISTS & DUETS - up to 5 minutes in main competitive discipline Participants of the International Competition and Festival of Folklore, Dance and Music "ISTRA SUMMER STARS" are divided in the following age categories: MINI KIDS - from 6 to 8 years CHILDREN - from 9 to 12 years JUNIORS 1 - from 13 to 15 years JUNIORS 2 - from 16 to 18 years ADULTS 1 - from 19 years to 25 years ADULTS 2 - from 26 years and older SENIORS - from 50 years and older MIXED AGE GROUPS The jury evaluates the skills of the participants during the competitive performance in each competitive discipline and in each age category in accordance with the 10-points evaluation systems. Results of the art competition and festival are being summed up by the end of all competitive performances. Awards: The Organizing Committee awards diplomas of participation, diplomas of Laureate of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades, Winner of the Grand Prix and festival medals to all participants. Ensembles and groups of 3 or more persons receive one big cup or trophy of the festival and Diploma, soloists and duets receive one small cup or trophy of the festival and Diploma. The absolute Winner of the festival receives the Grand Prix of the festival and Diploma Grand Prix. All teachers, choreographers, group and ensemble leaders also receive the Diplomas of Festival. Main technical requirements: ALL AUDIO SOUND RECORDS FOR COMPETITIVE AND FESTIVAL PROGRAM MUST BE SENT TO THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE BY EMAIL AT LEAST 14 DAYS BEFORE PARTICIPATION. All audio sound records for the competitive program must be recorded only in the usual audio format. All audio sound records must be of high quality, with clean editing and cuts. The participants must inform the Organizer if the music stops and starts again after pause or contains silence within the musical composition. Program: 1st day, JUNE 02, 2025 - Arrival to Poreč (Croatia), self-transportation to the hotel DELFIN / ZELENA LAGUNA. At 15:00 - check-in and accommodation at the hotel. Relax on the beach or at the swimming pool of the hotel. At 20:00 p.m. - dinner in the hotel. At 21:00 p.m. - Meeting with the Organizing Committee. Overnight in Poreč. 2nd day, JUNE 03, 2025 - Breakfast in the hotel. FESTIVAL DAY PROGRAMME: stage testing, sound check, general rehearsal. OPENING CEREMONY, performances of the participants. At 20:00 p.m. - dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Poreč. 3rd day, JUNE 04, 2025 - Breakfast in the hotel. FESTIVAL DAY PROGRAMME: stage testing, sound check, general rehearsal, performances of the participants. GALA CONCERT of WINNERS and AWAR CEREMONY. PARADE OF PARTICPANTS. Discotheque. At 20:00 p.m. - dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Poreč. 4th day, JUNE 05, 2025 - Breakfast in the hotel. Relax on the beach. *Optional excursion: boat trip to VENICE (ITALY). It takes 2 hours to get there and you get to spend 4 hours free time in Venice to admire the lagoon city. VENICE is known for the gondola rides, the bridges like the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs, the canals, the St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) and St. Mark’s Basilica, the St. Mark’s Campanile and Doge’s Palace. **Optional excursion: boat trip around the ISTRIAN ISLANDS (including FISH-PICNIC) *** Optional excursion: whole-day trip to PULA - ancient sea-front city and harbor, one of the jewels of Croatia’s northernmost Istria region. Less than 1,5 hours from Poreč, this city was once Roman, and visiting its exceptionally well-preserved Roman Amphitheatre, knows as the Pula Arena, the triumphal Arch of the Sergii, and the Temple of Augustus. At 20:00 - dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Poreč. 5th day, JUNE 06, 2025 - Breakfast in the hotel. Check out from the hotel. Departure from Poreč. ***The organizer reserves the right to alter the festival day within the set festival program. The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the event program*** If necessary, changes may be made to its content, method and organization before or during the event, insofar as these changes do not substantially diminish the described benefits of the event for the participant(s). Participation fee: 175 Euro per person for 4 HB (breakfast and dinner) in HOTEL DELFIN in POREČ Every 25th person in the group is free of charge (24 paying participants + 1 free) OBLIGATORY PARTICIPATION FEE: MEMBERS OF ART GROUPS - 10 EURO per participant / main discipline SMALL FORMS (up to 10 performers) - 15 EURO per participant / main discipline TRIOS and QUARTETS - 20 EURO per participant / main discipline SOLOISTS and DUETS - 30 EURO per person / main discipline VISUAL ARTS participants - 10 EURO per participant FOR PARTICIPATION IN ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINES: ART GROUPS pay extra 5 EURO per participant / 1 additional discipline SOLOISTS and DUETS pay extra 10 EURO per participant / 1 additional discipline HOTEL DELFIN DESCRIPTION: HOTEL DELFIN occupies a superb location in Zelena Resort, just outside Poreč, on its own verdant peninsula just near the beach. The full capacity of hotel is 794 rooms equipped with its own Shower / Bath and WC, direct-dial phone, balcony with sea-side or park side view. Rooms are spacious, well kept, with comfortable beds. Most rooms offer nice views of the surrounding area and the islands in the distance. There are three restaurants within the hotel, as well as several bars. If you like night swimming, hotel DELFIN is the right choice, because it offers this kind of evening entertainment. HOTEL FACILITIES: 2 outdoor swimming pools entertainment programs air conditioning in restaurants exchange office safe (additional charge) aperitif bar, pool bar dance terrace TV room free WiFi internet access in the lobby of the hotel souvenir shop / newspapers 400-seat conference hall bicycle storeroom massage studio NEAR THE HOTEL: children's playground restaurants, bars, shops sport centers and sport hall parking GASTRONOMY: breakfast buffet 7:00-10:00 h lunch buffet/menu 12:00-14:00 h dinner buffet 18:30-21:00 h suitable for vegetarians lunch packet (to be ordered the day before) Participation fee includes: 4 overnights in POREČ in HOTEL DELFIN on basis HB (buffet breakfast and dinner) Meals: HALF BOARD (4x buffet breakfast and 4x buffet dinner) Accommodation in MULTI-BEDDED ROOMS for participants and DBL/TWIN for group leaders, drivers and teachers. We give 1 DBL/TWIN for group leaders (groups with less than 40 persons) and 2 DBL (groups with more than 40 persons). More DBL rooms are possible for Extra SUPPLEMENT / See EXTRA PAYMENTS OFFICIAL LETTER OF INVITATION and other documents PERFORMACE IN COMPETITIVE & FESTIVAL PROGRAM DIPLOMAS, PRIZES MEDALS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS Participation fee does not include: Extra overnight in hotel: 43 EURO per person a night with HB Extra payment for accommodation in DBL: +20 EURO per person to Festival price Extra payment for accommodation in SNGL: +50 EURO per person to Festival price Extra payment for OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS Travel expenses (transportation of participants to / from Poreč, travel insurance, entrance visa to Croatia for participants from non-Schengen countries), transfers, lunches, entrance tickets to sightseeing objects, tickets to public traffic, optional excursions 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.