From the tourism

“From the tourism”

The leaving summer is like parting with a holiday. With warm sun the colored festivals leave the Czech Republic.

We’d like to get acquainted you with the children and youth festival, witch took place from 19.07. till 19.08. in Ceske Budejovice. The reporter form “Czech Republic today” Maruna Timofeeva spoke with the Director of festival and active programs for children and youth Zhuravlova Lyudmila

М.Т: Lyudmila, can you tell us, please, how and when the idea of the organization of festival was born? In fact your firm is engaged in tourism ….

L.Z.: Our company has been working with the festival program already 4 years! So the year 2007 will be amazing for us. We are going to celebrate the fifth anniversary. Actually this idea was born simply and naturally. Since 1998 our firm is engaged in tourism, in fact youth-tourism. We began with children's improving programs. In Teplice was created the biggest in Czech Republic special cultural-improving center for more than 400 children. There were many very talented children among them. So we decided to create the first festival project. It was in 2003. I’d like to say that before it we worked with some creative groups, and organized tours for them. This activity also inspired us to create the large-scale project.

М.Т: But Teplice is in the north of the country. And the festival passes in the south. In fact the name " Festival of children and youth in the Bohemia ". Why?

L.Z.: Every festival has its own tradition and philosophy. We’d like to unite beauty of natural landscapes, talent of children and originality of architecture. In fact all south of Czech Republic is under protection of UNESCO. Our idea was to use the beauty of the cities like the natural stage and scenery for our festivals!

М.Т: Yes, scenery seems to be really impressing. And have your wish came true?

L.Z.: Certainly! In fact local city authorities helped us. And this year the festival is supported by the hetman of South Bohemia Jan Zagradnik.

М.Т: You just mentioned the tradition of festival. What can you tell us about it?

L.Z.: Actually we divide our summer festival in to 5 directions: «Silver voice» - festival of choral collectives, «Czech fairy tale» - choreographic, «Castle Metamorphosis» - a holiday of ancient music and dances, «Rainbow » - folk festival and «Holiday of time » - festival of modern variety creativity.

М.Т: That’s great! And how you find so many talent-children?

L.Z.: Actually children come from all Russia. We send invitations and than receive disks with record of performances. Simultaneously we can accept 1500 participants. I’d like to notice that all kids are really amazing and talent. Each performance is a great show, full of smiles and happiness! And with combination with special aura of region and special mood this show is really fantastic … Believe me, you need to see this and go through it even once.

M.T.: So it’s like the Factory of Stars, but on the Czech ground?

L.Z.: no, it’s entirely opposite! From the very beginning we have children from all part of Russia, also we have guests from different countries, for example Serbia, Moldova, Kazakhstan and even from Israel. But what is more important, we want children not only participate in competition, but we want them to learn the culture if Czech Republic, we want to give them the chance to communicate with each other! That is why we create the special excursion program for them!

М.Т: Yes, it distinguishes your festival from set of others. And in your opinion what collective has been most successfully this summer?

L.Z. Actually I didn’t make this decision! We have a special jury! This year it was the main playwright of theatre in Cesky Krumlov Jirzi Pokorny, Libyche Kralove - the chief of ballet of the South-Czech theatre, Sergey Skalio - the main choreographer of the same theatre. The winner of this festival became Perm dancing collective "Cheerful little men". Children were in the excellent form, but the main thing witch have surprised both jury and visitors was the unordinary performance. Traditional "Barinja" in their execution was magnificent and impressing. And statement "Spring" - such pathetic, that old Russian emigrants thanked young executors literally with tears. You can’t even imagine their enthusiastic eyes!

М.Т: Unfortunately, I haven’t seen it! But another point is that for the organization of such huge action except talents also sponsors are necessary. And who sponsors your festival?

L.Z.: Actually nobody now. And as it is a pity! Such help is really necessary for us! In fact now we organize festival with our own money.

M.T. So, it means that your festival is charity?

L.Z.: Not absolutely so. We are helped by the Czech authorities. They give us the opportunity to use good city stages. For example last year we had our concerts in the concert-hall in Pyramida hotel, also in Cultural House in Prague. We are supported always by the local mayoralties. This year the bank “Raifaisenbank” also helps! But the basic means for festival we receive from tourist activity.

М.Т: And what about some Russian scientific and cultural centers? Or the Russian embassy? Do they supported you?

L.Z.: This year the new press secretary of Embassy of the Russian Federation Alexander Mihajlovich Pismennyj visited our festival. For our festival the support of the Russian embassy play a great role, more than that it help to strength the relation between Czech Republic and Russia! For us it’s a great honor to have the support of Embassy of the Russian Federation. We are assured, that the festival becomes prestigious action. We hope that soon Russian and Czech businessmen will be involved in our festival.

М.Т: And last traditional question. What are your plans?

L.Z.: Oh…. We have lots of plans. We prepare interseasonal actions. We have the festival “Autumn Fairy Tale”, it will be on the 2^nd^st October in Teplice. Than we have Christmas festival. And also in March we have the festival Blossoming Czech!

M.T. Thank you for such!

L.Z. You are welcome! And we invite you to our festival-concerts!