INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FOLKLORE DANCE FESTIVAL "FRIENDSHIP WITHOUT BORDERS”

SLIVEN, BULGARIA /21-26 MAY/ 2007


CO-ORGANIZERS:
Regional Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Science
Children’s Complex in Sliven
Belite Kainaci Company

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY:
Sliven is a town with rich historical past and cultural heritage, with traditions in the protection and popularization of the folklore. Constructive and concert activities are developed only in Sliven by a professional song and dance ensemble and ten children’s folklore dance groups, in which children of all ethnoses participate. The organization of the present festival is a point of intersection between the preservation of the cultural identity and the incorporation of the children to the dance art in the spirit of the European collaboration.
Within the framework of a week during the richest month of cultural activities May, Municipality of Sliven is a host of children from whole Europe, who make the streets and squares of Sliven ring with songs and dances. The festival programme gives opportunities to the young talents from Sliven and abroad to show their gifts through music and dance and to acquire knowledge for other countries and peoples. The participation of more than 500 children from different countries from Europe and Asia changes the festival days into a holiday of friendship, confidence and collaboration and makes strong constructive contacts and relationships.
New elements in the cultural programme, which help for the out-of-stage communication of the children and give an opportunity for exchange of ideas and practices between the folklorists from the different countries, are included in the statute of the festival annually.

CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION:
1. Children’s dance groups for authentic and processed folklore from Bulgaria and other countries may participate in the festival. The age of the participants may range from 8 to 14 years old.
The total number of the group (participants, persons accompanying them, musicians, drivers) is 32 people.
If the group has greater than 32 participants, the expenses for other persons should be covered by the groups themselves (30 euro per person a day for food and accommodation).
2. Groups, which are approved by the organization committee and have paid participation fee, take part in the festival.
For foreign groups - 180 euro.
Dance groups, which have taken part in the last two editions of the festival, will be allowed to participate on their own account.

PROCEDURE OF SELECTION OF THE PARTICIPANTS:
I. Every group fills a participation application (if you are interested, please connect e-mail: vaniash@abv.bg) and sends it to the organizers not later than 15th February 2006 (the date of receiving is important) by e-mail, fax or post.
Except the participation application you have to send:
· a creative biography of the group
· a letter, which is to certify that the participants accept the statute of the festival
· advertising materials - photos, folders, CD, etc.
II. The organization committee makes а selection of the groups on the base of the received documents till 15th March 2006.
· The groups will be informed in written form (by e-mail, fax or post) for the decision of the organization committee till 25th March 2006.
ІІІ. After receiving a confirmation for participation, every group has to transfer the participation fee.
· In case of impossibility of the group to participate, the fee will be returned at the given bank account, only if the refusal is declared not later than 30th April 2006.

PROGRAMME:
The groups should have prepared:
· 10 min. - dance programme (fitted for indoors)
· 30 min. or more - dance programme (fitted for indoors)
· Street performance - dance programme (fitted for outdoors)
The festival does not have a competitive component. All the participants receive a diploma, a badge of honour with the festival’s emblem on it and a souvenir.
A detailed programme of the festival will be sent with the official invitation for participation.

ACCOMMODATION, EXPENSES:
All the participants will be accommodated at a hotel. The foreign participants’ expenses for food and accommodation for the period of 21st - 25th of May will be completely covered by the Organization Committee.
The travelling expenses to and from Sliven will be covered by the groups themselves. The fuel expenses in the frameworks of the festival will be covered by the Municipality of Sliven.

COPYRIGHTS OF THE RECORDS:
The organizers possess all the copyrights of the performances of the festival in Bulgaria and abroad, without obligations to the participants. Every group receives CD with the performances of the participants in the festival programme free.

ATTENDANT PROGRAMME:
A creative discussion with topic "Folklore, child and intercultural communication” and a dance school, in which hosts and guests learn each other and make friendships and constructive contacts, are organized during the festival.

ADDRESSES FOR CORRESPONDENCE:
Municipality of Sliven
1 Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd.
8800 Sliven
tel. + 359 44 611 102; + 359 44 611 220
fax + 359 44 66 31 77; + 359 44 622 356
e-mail: OKaneva@sliven.bg; eskidora@abv.bg

INFORMATION: http://www.eurograde-bg.com