Директор: 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 IX International music & folk – dance festival “ OHRID SUNSET” 08 – 11 Juni , 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. Ohrid City – a mixture of rich history and modern life: The seven wonders of Ohrid Macedonia, deep in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, is simply a small country with extraordinary beauty. This ancient and biblical land is probably one of the last visited and least known countries in Europe, which in a way makes it even more mysterious and attractive. Finally, this terra incognita is now ready to be discovered. And without any doubt, its most precious jewels, shining one next to the other, are the city of Ohrid and the lake Ohrid. Ohrid Lake is one of the oldest tectonic lakes on the planet (it is about 3 million years old), along with The Baikal Lake in Russia,Tanganyika and Malawi in Africa and Titicaca in South America. It is one of those rare preserved ancient lakes in Europe. Ohrid Lake is one of the largest and most important natural heritages in the world. The unique and endemic flora and fauna with many relic living forms make the lake rare but real natural "museum of living fossils". Ohrid lake coast is 35km with beautifully sands beach, tourist attractions and entertainment. Temperature of the water in the lake is 25C degree and it is suitable for swimming, diving, yachting. Ohrid today is a cultural, spiritual and tourist centre. It is the famous tourist place in Macedonia but also in the region. During this period there are a lot of tourists from Holland, Finland, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Turkey. Due to exceptional beauty Ohrid is protected in this period is the best tourist resort in Macedonia. It is the famous tourist place in the region with a lot of hotels, apartments, a lot of traditional restaurants and café, shops, entertainment. Ohrid during the summer period lives 24 hours. 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), Аdult ensembles (1/3 of the participants must be older than 25). Festival 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 on English and 2-3 photos of the group. To take a flag of the country. Ensembles should have there own transport for arrival and departure. Participation fee: 63 Euro 3 HB per person (3 nights with 2 meals per day (Half Board). 83 Euro 4 HB per person (4 nights with 2 meals per day (Half Board). 69 Euro 3 FB per person (3 nights with 3 meals per day (Full Board). 89 Euro 4 FB per person (4 nights with 3 meals per day (Full Board). 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 (in renovated rooms). 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; 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 conference, radio and tv channels, posters); 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; 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: 08.06 Friday 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. 09.06 Saturday 08.00 - 10.00 - 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 10.06 Sunday 08.00 - 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 7 euros per person, if it is FB than lunch package from hotel, dancing boat). 17.00 - 18.30 - Dinner in hotel. 21.00 - 00.00 - Closing ceremony of the festival - organizers give certificates and presents for the groups than exchange presents and party with all participants with wine degustation and soft drink for the kids. 11.06 Monday 08.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast. 11.00 - Departure of the participants. OPTIONAL – If you stay more days: 11.06 Monday 09.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast. 10.30 - 14.00 - Visiting Struga city (house of Miladinovci brothers, river Crni Drim, Kalsita caves church) or beach time. 14.00 - 15.00 - Lunch in hotel and free activities. 20.00 - 21.00 - Dinner in hotel. 21.00 - Festival evening in Struga city or Macedonian evening party or Pool party in hotel Desaret. 12.06 Tuesday 09.00 - 10.00 - Breakfast. 11.00 - 14.00 - Visiting Vevcani (ethno village) or Beach time. 14.00 - 15.00 - Lunch in hotel. 19.00 - 20.00 - Dinner in hotel. 21.00 - 23.30 - Beach party. 13.06 Wednesday 08.00 - 09.00 - Breakfast. 09.00 - 14.00 - Departure to Skopje city with guide (visiting monuments of Alexander of Macedon, National museum of Macedonian struggle, Macedonian GATE, Stone bridge) (optional). 14.00 - Departure from Skopje city. 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 8 groups with 297 participants from 7 EU countries. In 2017 we had 10 groups with 356 participants (children, youth and adults) from 10 countries. 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.