European Association of Folklore Festivals

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Welcome to Batumi

Location: Batumi Google Map - here

 

Batumi is the capital city of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara in the country of Georgia. Its coastal location and sub-tropical climate make it a popular city for vacationers across the Caucasus, although few western tourists venture in its direction. It's the party capital of the region with a night life to match which increasingly includes big name international DJs on the beach-front clubs. Expect to party on the beaches with Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Turks, Russians and, of course, Georgians.

This small, white city containing mostly 2-3- storied buildings possesses a certain unique charm. The part of the city called “Old Batumi” is nearly 150 years old. Here you can see coffee-device workshops. Coffee ritual generally takes an important place in Batumi lifestyle. There are a lot of open cafes here where city dwellers gather according to the ages and interest and have aromatic hot black coffee prepared on the heated sand.

The buildings in “Old Batumi” are of exceptional beauty. A lot of buildings are decorated with chimeras, lions, nameless mythical creatures, and the pride of Batumians-a boy with the reed-pipe. The beautiful white building near the seaside park is shouldered by the Titans. They have been holding their “heavy” burden uncomplainingly for over a century already. The Post Office building is one of the most fascinating buildings in Batumi. It is built at the beginning of XX century and is located at the juncture of the two central streets-Baratashvili and Abashidze streets. The clock on its dome is the main clock of the city according to which Batumians set their clocks.

Growth and development of modern Batumi began in Porto Franco period In the XIX century and continued more rapidly later on. Batumi with its first-rank port and well developed industry held a significant place in Georgia and in Caucasus as one of the most important transit and industrial centers. 29 factories functioned here in 1903. Industrial boom was followed by an increase in the population growth- from 3 000 up to 30000 in the time frame 1878-1903. A lot of European commercial and industrial companies were in business in that period. “O.F. Gillard”, “Siemens and Halske”, “Schuft and Zimmerman”, “Varneke and Company”, “Nobel Brothers” and others were among them. European profound interest in Batumi was rapidly growing. The flow of businessmen to and from Batumi noticeably increased. An intensive constructing activity started: 305 dwelling houses were built, 4 tobacco plants, 8 hotels, 4 confectionaries, 27 bakeries, 21 dining-halls, 49 groceries, 15 fancy-goods stores and 12 shoe and ready-made clothing stores were opened by 1884. Consulates and representative offices of the following 15 countries were opened in order to protect their citizens' rights and trade-industrial interests.

Industry was further expanding in Batumi during Soviet period. Besides, Batumi started to develop as a major tourist destination for Soviet holidaymakers. Appropriate hotel and leisure infrastructure was introduced.

 

Folklore

Folk polyphony of Ajara is the beauty of Georgian music folklore. It preserved such old Georgian songs which no longer exist in other parts of Georgia. These songs are “Ohoi, Nana”, “Acharuli” and others. Georgian polyphonic songs are rarity and their analogy is hard to be found. They clearly show the distinguished pride and inner nobility of the Georgians.

Ancient customs and standards, grace, plasticity, elegance, alacrity, modesty – all these qualities can easily be seen and felt in Ajarian folk-dances, which have long become essential part of Georgian choreography. As for the ancient ritual dances “Khorumi” and “Gandagana” – they gained worldwide acclaim.

Our people possessed musical culture as early as 3-4 thousand years ago. The proofs of it are the musical instruments still preserved to this day: pipe, naibuli, kviristviti, ghorototo, chiboni, panduri, chonguri, drum, tambourine, lyre, bobghani, etc. Among these the most spread instruments in Ajara were: chonguri, panduri, drum, pipe, reed-pipe, chiboni. They were used during folk festivals.

Ajarian population separated from the Christian world and undergoing religious persecution, strove to preserve the Christian faith. It gradually became impossible though with the change of generations and forcing Muslim faith. That is why Ajarians made biblical stories and legends into fairy-tales and thus passed them to the posterity.

All the above said is only a small portion of large and diverse ethnological portrait of Ajara. Visit Ajara and experience those ancient and unique ethno- cultural details which reflect inimitable charm of the Georgian nation.

 

The program of the festival

 

International Folklore Festival in-competition begins in Georgia, Batumi, on June 7 and ends on the same day with a gala concert. Second festival-contest will begin June 8 and will end June 9 in Kobuleti.

Organization of the International Folk Festival-Competition is held by the folk festivals organization  “KVALI NATELI XXI” with support of the municipality of Batumi, Georgia.

The purpose of the organization is development of the World Festival in the world public and for the keeping and development of an art.

Festival competition is conducted in support of: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Education. The municipality and the city of Batumi. TV Ajara and TV company Imedi.

 

Conditions of the Festival

Invited to participate  the following genres:

1. dance ensembles (dance theater, bands, folk dancing, soloists);

2. Instrumental performers of folk and classical music (soloists, ensembles, orchestras, individual performers);

3. Vocalists (folk and academic choirs, ensembles and soloists of the individual).

 

Organizational and technical requirements:

National ensembles can participate in Participants can to participate in the competition with a live music.

Dance participants should have a soundtrack on a CD disk with the inscription of the participant’s (ensemble) and  the ensemble name and also participant must indicate an exact time of the each music and dance in not exceeding more than three performances.

The National flag can't be bigger than 1 m x 2 m. Each participating country is requested to provide 2 national flags and a CD with the national anthem.

Rehearsal possibility on a scene will be given participants.

The organization reserves the right to itself for change of a place of a foresight and time of a foresight of competition, without changing a condition (service).

Participants in the contest must be prepared 3 numbers for the festival, duration 3-5 minutes each. 

 

The concert - at the opening of the festival involves groups and soloists on the basis of the jury's decision.

participants will have the opportunity to rehearsal on stage.

The organizing committee reserves the right to change venue and time of the contest, not a change in conditions (services).

The festival consists of two rounds. Scores on the scale of a decimal point scale.

 

Criteria for assessing the performances and award winners:

Competitive performance of the participants measured at according to generally accepted criteria: technical mastery (respectively nomination), artistry, complexity of the repertoire, costume, etc.

 

Festival can take part in the following age categories:

from 7 to 12 years;

from 13 to 17 years;

18 years and above.

 

Competition fund:

Winners will be awarded by monetary prizes, gifts and diplomas

 

Grand Prix Gold Cup;   

The first Gold diploma;

The second Silver diploma;

The third Bronze diploma.

 

Awards:

All teams participating in the festival will be awarded prizes and certificates from the founders and organizers of the festival.

 

 

Concert Hall

Competition jury

  The jury will consist of three persons, representatives of the different countries. Known composers and choreographers will estimate contestants.

  The jury will make the decision, on the basis of own professionalism and experience.

  Results of competition will be declared in a final part of competition, at gala concert which will come to the end with festival - competition.       

 

Conditions for participation in the festival competition

To participate in the festival organizer must submit the following documents until April 2, 2012:

Application for participation in the Festival, signed by the head and sending side. 

Number of participants of the festival of creative collectives is not limited.

Participants who wish to participate in the competition, they must have a national number (dance or song).

All participants must have their national exhibits for the exhibition.

Participants in the competition must have a national clothing.

 

Offer the following additional services that we offer to you

Price of the tour consists of a number of tourist

 

Financial conditions

Schedule of the day: