XII Balkan Championship of Folklore "Euro Folk - Jiva voda 2024"

Location: Hisarya  (Wikipedia), Hisarya (Map)

Participants are ensembles from:   Albania,  Bosnia and Herzegovina,  Bulgaria,  Greece,  Kosovo,  Macedonia,  Montenegro,  Croatia,  Serbia,  Italy,  Romania,  Slovenia,  Turkey and others.

Participants in Balkan Championship of Folklore "Euro Folk - Jiva voda 2023" were 150 folklore groups with more thаn 2 700 participants.

Organizers:

Euro Folk Academy, Event Vacation

Municipality of Hissarya, "Ivan Vazov 1904" Community center

Within the framework of Musical Feasts "Euro Folk" under the auspices of the European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF - ICH Partner of UNESCO
Licence of World Association of Folklore Festivals - WAFF

XII Balkan Championship of Folklore "Euro Folk - Jiva voda 2024" is a competitive event which is a part of the Championship system of folklore of the European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF with the rank of Regional International Championship. Championship system of folklore includes local, national, regional, international and continental folk arts championships. The highest and most important event of the Championship system is the World Championship of Folklore "World folk". The hierarchical structure of the Championship system gives the participants the opportunity to rank and move to the next stage of the different ranked championships. The Championship system is a modern form of promotion and preservation of cultural heritage which combines a strong competitive start and a high level of performance of the participants.

The evaluations of the groups participating in the competition programs of the Championship system are valid for ranking in the World ranking list of folklore.

XII Balkan Championship of Folklore "Euro Folk - Jiva voda 2024" is held within the framework of Musical Feasts "Euro Folk".

Musical Feasts "Euro Folk" have been held since 2003 in various cities and countries of Europe. Since 2007, they have been under the auspices of the European Association of Folklore Festivals - EAFF. Main event of Musical Feasts "Euro Folk" is No1 Festival in Europe for the traditional folklore arts - Stara Planina Fest "Balkan Folk". Every year from 7 000 to 15 000 musicians, singers and dancers take part in it. So far, nearly 200,000 (two hundred thousand) singers, musicians and dancers from all over Bulgaria and from another 30 countries from 4 continents have participated in the Stara Planina Fest "Balkan Folk". Musical Feasts "Euro Folk" include forty-five music festivals. Typical feature of Musical Feasts "Euro Folk" is that all of the performances are recorded with professional audio and television technics and the best of them are repeatedly broadcasted by more than 20 cable televisions in Bulgaria, by the satelite televisions "Rodina TV" and "T.TV.I.", as well as by television "EuroFolkTV" with free Internet access from all over the world. All this activities realize the main purpose of Musical Feasts "Euro Folk" - to popularize the traditional folk arts through the enormous possibilities of mass media.

LIVE TV broadcast on the Internet of all concerts on the website of "EurofolkTV": tv.eurofolk.com, YouTube Channel: @TVeurofolk, Facebook: EurofolkTV and EAFForg.

Town host - Hissarya, Bulgaria:

Hisar / Hisarya (the Augusta, Diocletianopolis, Seuthopolis, Aleksiopolis, Toplitsa) has a rich thousand-year history. The favorable climate and mineral waters have attracted people in these places of ancient times. Here is a prehistoric settlement existed even before the V-IV century BC The late Thracian settlement near the mineral springs became part of Odryssae state. Some spas were built medical-religious sanctuaries (nympheum). From this period dates the big Thracian cult facilities near Starosel.

After the conquest of the province of Thrace by the Romans in 46, around mineral springs emerged big Roman city. In 293 the Emperor Diocletian gave him the status of the city and since its beginning with massive retaining walls and construction of new urban solutions. In its preservation and originality defense system and the architecture of the Roman town Diocletianopolis ranks among the top in Europe. In many places the fortress wall reaches a height of 11 meters and the southern fortress gate stands 13 meters archaeological studies state that the fortress was reinforced by 44 towers. In the ancient city has had four major gates.

Purpose of the festival:

The main task of the organizers is to give creative collectives the opportunity to perform and to include them in a competition program, determining the best of them and to promote them through modern information technologies. Providing a platform for cultural exchange where participants can show the rich cultural heritage through the diverse forms of folk art: music, song and dance. Expression of cultural identity. Promoting mutual respect and understanding between different nations and communities. Making new friendships. Preservation and promotion of traditional cultural elements through artistic performances that ensure their transmission from generation to generation.

Regulation:

• The application form must be sent to confirm participation. All filled applications will mean acceptance of the terms laid by the present regulation.
• Groups, applying for participation, must have obtained prestigious awards from other events from Championship system or other prestigious contests awards to be mentioned in the application.
• After receiving your application form, a confirmation will be sent to you along with payment instructions.
• The group should prepare a 5/ 10/ 15-minute program accompanied by their own orchestra or music on FLASH memory.
• Each group should bring a flag of their country and the group if available, a board with the name of their group and country and few gifts for the municipality visits and organizers or for exchange with the other participants.
• Each group should provide a few photos/ videos with a brief history of the group. These materials will be used for promotional, publication and advertising purposes.
• A group delegation can include artists and their accompanying party. The number of artists and accompanying people is not limited.
• During the championship, the organizers can invite the group to take part in common events - Official opening, Official closing, parade, cocktail party, accompanying concerts, master class or others. The presence of invited teams in various events is required.
• All participants organize their own travel to and from the place of conducting and pay their own travel expenses.
• All participants need to have the necessary international health insurance.
• Participants pay a fee to participate.

• vocal groups, folk choirs
• dance ensembles, dance clubs and schools for folk dances
• folklore ensembles
• wind and folk orchestras
• groups for recreating customs
• groups for old urban songs
• individual performers, duet and trio

• For individuals - 5 minutes
• For groups - 10 minutes
• For ensembles - up to 15 minutes

I) Groups for old urban songs or Classical music. (groups, ensembles)

*i  individual performers and duets by all categories except E,F,H;
*1  by all categories there is also ranking of children and young people up to 18 years. /in children's and youth groups can participate up to 30% of participants from different age /
*2  by all categories there is ranking adults people over 18 years old.

The jury evaluates by the following 3 criteria:
   1. Level of complexity and technique of performance
   2. Appearance (costumes, properties, staging, selection of repertoire)
   3. Stage manners (behavior on stage, gestures, contact with the audience, spirit emanation, artistry)

• The jury committee may participate only members authorized by EAFF.
• The evaluation system is sixty points, taking the arithmetic mean of the sum of the criteria.
• The jury is entitled to reduce the overall assessment in case of non-compliance with the regulation.

Awards:

• The winner of the Grand Prize of "Euro Folk 2024" - Grand Prix "Orpheus", a Gold medal and a Diploma for Absolute Balkan Champion of folklore for 2024 receives also a cash prize of 1,000 leva. The cash prize is provided by the Municipality of Hissarya.
• Silver "Orpheus", silver medal and a diploma for the Balkan Vice-Champion of folklore.
• Bronze "Orpheus", bronze medal and a diploma.
• At the discretion of the jury Nomination "Orpheus" is awarded, which gives the right for participation in the ranking for the Grand Prix "Orpheus".
• Golden, silver and bronze medals and diplomas in the relevant categories.
• Recommendations for participation in a Championship of a higher rank.
• Special awards from organizers and partners.
• All participating groups receive diplomas for participation and subject prizes.
• The jury awards the best performances with free filming and video production.
• At the discretion of the jury and the producers Euro Folk Academy the prominent art leaders are honored with a Diploma for obtaining the rank of Maestro or Maestro Academic. Diplomas are sent to the Ministry of Culture of the relevant country or the Mayors of municipalities with a request for handing in the appropriate way.
• All art directors, teachers, choreographers, group and ensemble leaders also receive the Thankful Diplomas of the Championship sent by the relevant Ministry of culture of their country, or Local Municipalities with request for a solemn awarding.
• Award winners get a free of charge copy of the video product, which consists of their performances.
• The participants can order against payment for full recordings of their performances, including video clips on DVD or FLASH cart.
• The awarding of the winners of the final ranking takes place at a special ceremony after the end of the competition program.

Championship categories are consistent with the categories of the World ranking list of folklore. Collected points standings with odds for a Regional International Championship.

Points valid for World ranking list of folklore.

Preliminary program:

Tours for the groups.

19.30 - Official opening ceremony
21.00 - End of the competition program

18.00 - Defile / Parad of nations
21.00 - End of the competition program

June 02
11.00 - Beginning of the competition program. Tours for the free groups.
17.30 - Official closing ceremony and announcement of the winners by categories and GRAND PRIX winner
18.00 - End of the program

June 03
Departure of the participants. Tours.
12.00 - Check out of hotels

The organizers reserve the right to change the program of the Championship.

Registration fee of the Participants:

Participation fee (for participants and accompanying persons)

• Period 1:   31 May - 03 June 
  • 144 Euro per person for 3 half-boards (2 meals per day) in 3* hotel
  • 204 Euro per person for 3 half-boards (2 meals per day) in 4* hotel

• Period 2:  30 May - 03 June
  • 192 Euro per person for 4 half-boards (2 meals per day) in 3* hotel
  • 272 Euro per person for 4 half-boards (2 meals per day) in 4* hotel

Accommodation: Hotels Augusta***, Astoria***, Phoenix***, Gallery****, Chinar****, Spa Hisar**** or other.

The participation fee includes:

• Accommodation in 1/3 and 1/4 rooms in 3*/4* hotel
• Half-board (breakfast and dinner-buffet)
• Free place on every 25-th member /25 +1/
• Free parking
• Organization expenses for one category
• First aid and emergency support will be provided
• Degrees**, Invitation letter***

The participation fee does not include:

• Supplement for 1/2 TWIN/ DOUBLE room is 7 Euro per person per night,  for 1/1 - single room is 21 Euro per person per night
• Additional day is 55/75 Euro per person per night
• Registration fee in contest in in each category is 6 Euro per person
• Additional fee for Individual participants and small groups up to quartet is 20 Euro
• Transport, insurance...

Registration of the participants:

Registration of the participants, receipt of the presentation materials, signing and handing over of contracts and clarifications on the program will be carried out from 10:00 to 16:00 by the person in charge of the group /artistic director/ at the registration office in "Ivan Vazov 1904" Community center in the town of Hissarya.

General Conditions:

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.
Next payment - 30% for booking of accomodation on a next stage.
Rest of the payment 60% - 15 days before the beginning of the festival, or upon registration with permission of organizers.

The sender covers all bank fees.

Unambiguous text: Upon approved participation in the Championship, the collectives or organizations representing them give the Organizer the right performances to be recorded on audio and video, shaped in a program presenting the festival and broadcast on a TV channel or otherwise, for which a contract is signed.

• Facultative tours (tour of Starosel, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Sofia)
• For all participants, the municipality offers free tour of the archaeological reserve Diocletianopolis, tour and visit to Thracian cult complex Starosel.
• Transport from airports: /Plovdiv - 40 km., Sofia - 180 km., Burgas - 280 km., Varna - 390 km., Istanbul - 450 km./
• Transportation /organizer can arrange transportation from/ to airport - price depends on the number of people/
• Horse riding - "Trakietz" Horse sport center
• Mineral pool beach - open air
• Mineral heath bath, SPA