Tradition and Dance – Bridge over the Danube

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Tourism and cultural heritage development are seen as one of the most important challenges of the cross-border area and especially in Teleorman and Veliko Tarnovo (areas addressed by the project). Regarding tourism in the 2 project areas the figures are: Accommodation capacity in 2012 in Teleorman – 732, Veliko Tarnovo 5850. Arrivals in Teleorman - 19917 (2008) and 14301 (2012), in Veloko Tarnovo 135315 (2008) and 177821 (2012). The annual overnights in Teleorman - 33361 (2008) and 38038 (2012), in Veliko Tarnovo - 221033 (2008) and in Veliko Tarnovo 275162 (2012).Taking into consideration the above elements, there are differences between the 2 project areas. These will be used in terms of exchanging experiences and transferring best practices and joint development. Tourism attractiveness in Teleorman and Veliko Tarnovo could be developed in area of cultural assets (cultural heritage, etc.). Folklore and traditional events play a crucial role in the cultural life of the area and represent tourism development resources. Local traditions, handicrafts and artisan works in the area are good opportunities to be explored. Tourism and cultural heritage as common challenges identified within the previous section will be addressed within the project through developing traditions existed in Contesti and Tsarevets (traditional dance) and also identifying new traditions that define the 2 areas and prove the link between them. At present, in Contesti village – located in Teleorman county - and Tsarevets village – located in Veliko Tarnovo – traditional dance, as intangible cultural heritage, is well developed. There is a dance ensemble in Contesti called „ Teleorman’s Flowers” with long and rich experience, registered at the Romanian State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, having more than 100 members with the age between 7 and 46 years, which carry on the traditions and cultural habits existed in the area. The ensemble participated within folkloric dance festivals in Romania and across the borders, e.g. Folkloric Festival in Budapesta, Festival in Chisinau, Festival in Tsarevets Bulgaria, Festival in Telis Bulgaria, Festival in Debovo Bulgaria. At the beginning of 90s, in Tsarevets was created a dance ensemble created within the community center "Lumina-Tsarevets 1927", very well known in Bulgaria and across the borders, through participation to different festivals national and international in Romania, France, Turkey, Tunis, USA. The 2 ensembles participated together at different festivals and developed a strong partnership based on the idea of sharing the common traditions that defined the cross-border link. This was extended at the administrative level, between the 2 communities. In this context, the project envisaged an integrated solution: tourism and cultural heritage, addressed in a cross-border dimension. Cultural heritage is an opportunity for developing tourism. The partners experience in traditional dance represents an asset that could be explored and extended as base for developing tourism in the 2 areas. In this way, the project will contribute to the extension of tourism season and preserving, promoting and developing the natural and cultural heritage. The strong partnership will be developed through project joint implementation. The new solution proposed by the project are: Exploring other common traditions through a documentation activity (that will be implemented within the project) in order to extend the existed link between the 2 areas, to other elements of traditions. Promoting the traditions – as cultural heritage - through 2 festivals/year that will be organized (in Contesti and Tsarevets) under the cross-border dimension. The festivals – dance and other common traditions - will be organized for the first time within the project and afterwards will continue to be organized in the idea of creating 2 events with long term tradition that will become representative for the cross-border area. Using the experience and visibility of the 2 dance ensembles existed in Contesti and Tsarevets as starting point for developing an intangible bridge – traditional dance – over the Danube. The 2 festivals will be named “Bridge over the Danube” and will be focused on promoting the link at traditional level between the 2 areas (Contesti – Tsarevets) with strong experience in traditional dance that will be developed. The project aim is to enhance the sustainable use of resources and cultural heritage in Contesti and Tsarevets. The project will address the programme result indicator: “Number of tourists overnights in the CBC region”. The 2 centers (”Dance School” and ”Culture Center”) created within the project will offer 2 common tourism services, consist of: - Events organization package; - Cultural events. In terms of result indicator, the project will lead to achieving the target of 1800 tourists overnights (4 festivalsx150 partx3nights). The project indicative budget is 1.500.000 Euro, divided as it follows: - 850.000 Contesti; - 650.000 Tsarevets.

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