DANCE AND CULTURAL TOURS TO ROMANIA 2004

The prices includes:

• Transfer from Bucharest to final destination and return.
• Full board in a double or triple bedroom with bath/shower and toilet (supplement for a single room: EUR 70.-/week).
• Dancing-lessons from Romanian dancing-teachers accompanied by live music. . Excursions by touring-car. Participation in a variety of activities such as: meeting and dancing with dance ensembles, visiting museums, participating in village festivities, etc.
• Free entrance to the museums and exhibitions named in the programme.
• Accompaniment by Silviu Ciuciurnis and an English speaking guide/interpreter.

Not included:

• Return-flight Amsterdam-Bucharest. On request Stichting DOINA will arrange your flight for you.
  Price indication: from EUR 290,- onwards.
  With regard to the large interest in these tours and the advantageous tickets on early booking, we advise that you to register as soon as possible.
• Cancellation insurance 5%, airport + security tax (will be included in final invoice).
• Travel insurance (you are requested to make personal arrangements).
• Personal spending on drinks, etc.

SUBJECT TO MODIFICATIONS 
 

PROGRAMME OF THE TOUR TO BRAŞOV 1 - 8 May 2004

Saturday 1st May

• Flight to Otopeni, Bucharest. Transfer by touring-car to Braşov (seven overnight stays in a hotel in the heart of the historical city centre)

Sunday 2nd May

• Dancing-lessons* assisted by dancers of the ensemble Astra from Săcele
• Visit to the black church (14th century) in Braşov: concert by Buchholz-organ with 4000 pipes, followed by a visit to the biggest Anatolian carpet collection in Europe
• In the village of Draguş: visit to the workshop of furrier Dumitru Sofonea Children's group, singing, dancing
• Viewing a costume collection in the village of Bucium. Visit to the museum of ethnography in Făgăraş. In the village of Comana** visit to the workshop of woodearvers, visit to the ethnographical village museum and performance by the local folklore group (famous boys' dances for girls, interpreters of old songs Ion Leluţiu and Emil Neamţu). Dancing-lessons and party together

Monday 3rd May

• Dancing-lessons In Poiana Braşov ride with the chair-lift to the top of the mountain Postăvarul (1801 m), beautiful view over the Carpatians
• Visit to the monastery of Sămbăta de Sus, viewing of a collection of icon paintings on glass
• Meeting with ensemble Astra in Sacele. Performance, dancing and partying together Tuesday 4th May
• Dancing-lessons. Visit to the places of interest in the old city centre of Braşov, a.o. citadel from 1690, small mediaeval weapon-museum and weavers' bastion, town hall from 1420, museum for the first Romanian school and printing-office, orthodox cathedral in Byzantine style with impressive frescos
• Visit to the memorial house of teacher Mr. Borcoman in the village of Rupea
• In Şereaia meeting with women's group ,Şezlitoarea (work-meeting for women and girls) with old customs

Wednesday 5th May

• Dancing-lessons. Visit to the museum for ethnography and folklore in Braşov
• In the village of Codlea: visit to the workshop of a smith. Meeting at the biggest floriculture of Romania with the ensemble Măgura (six generations of dancers). Performance and dance party

Thursday 6th May

• Dancing-lessons. Visit to the citadel in Raşnov, founded round 1225 by German Teutonian knights. Visit to the castle of Bran (14th century), residence of VI ad Tepeş alias Dracula, and to the open-air museum
• In the village of Felrner meeting with a folklore group with wedding customs Furca de tors a miresii (distaff of the bride). Interpreters of old songs Mioara Cârje and Ileana Socea

Friday 7th May

• Dancing-lessons and special opportunity for dance notation and video-recording
• Excursion to Prejmer: the best preserved fortified church of Eastern-Europe, built by German knights (13th century), with walls of 12 m high and 4 m thick, 4 floors, the first Romanian apartment-building . Farewell-party together with the ensemble Astra from Săcele

Saturday 8th May

• Transfer by touring-car along the Prahova-valley to Bucharest.. On our way visit to the cities of Predeal and Sinaia. Flight from Otopeni, Bucharest

During the spring-tour the dancing-lessons will be given by Gheorghe Debu and Gheorghe Tiinase with dances from Transsylvania and North-Muntenia.

PROGRAMME OF THE TOUR TO SIGHETU MARMAŢIEI 16 - 23 October 2004

Saturday 16th October

• Flight to Otopeni, Bucharest. Bus tour along the places of interest in Bucharest (the old city centre and palace of Ceauşescu). Transfer by night-train to Vatra Dornei in sleeping compartments (dep. 2 1.05 h)

Sunday 17th October

• Arrival in Vatra Dornei (07.30 h). Transfer by touring-car10 Maramureş
• On our way (still in Bucovina) visit to the villages of Ciocaneşti and Cârlibaba, famous for their characteristic old architecture and traditional wall-decoration
• In Maramureş visit to the root-art museum in the village of Vulcănescu and to the Tartar mausoleum . Visit in Bogdan Voda to thc famous high wooden churches and wood-carved gates
• Dancing-lessons* assisted by dancers of the ensemble Mara from Sighetu Marrnaţiei. Performance and party together

Monday 18th October

• Dancing-lessons
• Excursion along the Iza-valley. In Bârsana: wooden church (1720) and monastery with 57 m high tower - For Maramureş typical wooden gates decorated with ancient motifs
• Visit to the school for wood-carvers of Ion Pătraş, famous wood-carver of gates
• In the village of Botiza visit to the workshop and special carpet collection of the Berbecaru family, with carpets painted with natural colours
• In the village of Dragomireşti** visit to the museum of farmers' wives of Maramureş. Meeting with a women's group (customs around birth) and men's group with Bărbăşti-dances. Party together

Tuesday 19th October

• Dancing-lessons
• Visit to the places of interest in Sighetu Marmaţei: culture palace (191 I), old town hall (1690), mill garden, Romanian orthodox church (1892), museum for ethnography and folklore . Excursion to the village of Giuleşti:
• Visit to the horinca-distillery (Romanian gin) and to the museum for ethnography of llie Lazăr
• Visit to the local school, to the monastery, and to the workshops of Bâlea Pălăguţa (necklaces of beads) and Ana Pop (costume maker)
• Performance by the local children's folklore group

Wednesday 20th October

• Dancing-lessons.
• Visit to the open-air museum of Maramureş in Sighetu Marmaţiei
• Excursion to the village of Sărăsău: visit to a church (14th century) and a fortress from the iron ages
• Excursion in Oaş to the village of Săpânta:
• Visit to the wold-famous 'happy cemetery' and the highest wooden church of the world (65 m)
• Visit to wood-carver and painter Ion Stan Pătraş, wood-carver Turda Toader and woolworker Ion Şteţ
• Performance by thc local folklore group: dance, music and old customs, dance party together

Thursday 21st October

• Dancing-lessons and special opportunity for dance notation and video-recording
• Visit to the school of arts (masks, icons on glass) and to the lyceum Dragoş Voda (1802) .
• Visit to the memorial house of Mihaly de Ap~a: art galery, boat tour on the Gavrila-lake
• Farewell-party together with ensemble Mara from Sighetu Marmaţiei and a village ensemble

Friday 22nd October

• Excursion along the Vişeu-valley: visit to the monastery of Moisei with a beautiful painted and wood- carved church. Taste of the local wonderspring
• In the village of Săcel visit to the pottery of Ion Şuşcă. Meeting with a folklore group with winter customs (dance, music, masks, public theatre). Dance party together
• Transfer by night-train to Bucharest in sleeping compartments (dep. 21.45 h)

Saturday 23rd October

• Arrival in Bucharest 08.15h.
• Visit to the open-air museum. Flight from Bucharest

During the autumn-tour the dancing-lessons will be given by Gheorghe Rednic with dances from Maramureş and Oaş.