From August 29 to September 2 in the Albanian town of Drach (Durres) was held the first edition of the International Folklore Festival "From Folk to Modern dance." The main idea of ​​the festival - to provide a platform for folk and modern dance groups and singers from different countries to show their uniqueness, to help preserveation and promotion of their cultures, traditions and cultural heritage, and not least - to create new friendships.

The forum provided a stage for the presentation of 10 groups from five countries. Bulgaria was represented by three collectives. Three were also the groups from Poland, two from Romania and one from Macedonia and the Czech Republic.

Over 350 participants, residents and guests of Drach attended the official opening ceremony of the festival on 31 August.

At the end of the second night of the festival festival, the director Mr. Jovan Jonoski thanked the performers for their participation and awarded them with certificates by the forum. Participants even had the opportunity to exchange gifts and contacts.

The concerts were held in the center of Drach. Besides presenting their traditional songs and dances, participants showed interesting costumes. The atmosphere of the folklore event was more than festive and cohesive.

Groups from around the world had the opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and enjoy the beauty of the Albanian city. In their spare time, groups visited many historical and cultural monuments.

 

Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about 33 km, west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically significant cities of Albania. Durrës is home to Albania's main port, the Port of Durrës, and to the newest public university, the Aleksandër Moisiu University.
Durrës is an important link to Western Europe due to its port and its proximity to the Italian port cities, notably Bari, to which daily ferries run. As well as the dockyard, it also possesses an important shipyard and manufacturing industries, notably producing leather, plastic and tobacco products. Some important buildings in Durrës include the main library, the cultural center with the Aleksandër Moisiu Theatre, the Estrada Theater, the puppet theater, and the philharmonic orchestra. There are also several museums such as the Durrës Archaeological Museum, Royal Villa of Durrës and the Museum of History (the house of Aleksandër Moisiu).
The city hosts the Durrës Ancient City Wall called also Durrës Castle while the largest amphitheatre in the Balkans is located in the city close to the harbour. This first-century construction is currently under consideration for inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The southern coastal stretch is renowned for its traditional mass beach tourism having experienced uncontrolled urban development. The city's beaches are also a popular destination for many foreign and local tourists, with an estimated 800,000 tourists visiting annually. 
 
Many Albanians from Tirana and elsewhere spend their summer vacations on the beaches of Durrës. In 2012, new water sanitation systems are being installed to completely eliminate sea water pollution. In contrast, the northern coastal stretch is mostly unspoiled and set to become an elite tourism destination as a number of beach resorts are being built since 2009. Neighboring districts are known for the production of good wine and a variety of foodstuffs.