WorldFestivalAssociation

 With pleasure we INVITE (folk ensembles,choral groups,orchestras,brass bands, majorette teams,vocal groups,art schools..) (children, youth and adult groups) to participate on 18th National and International Folklore Festival "ASHPA SÚMAJ"  10-14 October 2024,Las Termas de Rio Hondo,ARGENTINA

The intention of our invitation  and the Festival light motive is to present the cultural tradition of different countries and to provide an opportunity for the members of groups to get together, to establish friendships and culture presentation trough dance and music. 

    From the Organization of the 18th National and International Folklore Festival "ASHPA SÚMAJ" (beautiful land) and 3rd. National Festival of Collectivities we are pleased to invite your group to participate in this event to value traditions and customs bequeathed by ancestors, in a mixture of the most diverse cultural manifestations. It is an artistic-cultural exchange between the numerous groups invited from Thursday 10 to Monday 14 October 2024. During the 17 years of the Festival, different groups from all regions of our country and abroad were present, transcending its culture and enriching this festival, the most important of the Province, of the Country and considered among the most outstanding of THE ENTIRE AMERICAN CONTINENT. In this way we show the tourist and cultural attractions of our land, Las Termas de Rio Hondo, which constitutes the main Thermal Center and Spa in Latin America, located in the province of Santiago del Estero, Argentine Republic.

Las Termas de Río Hondo is the main Thermal Center and Spa in Latin America. Located on the banks of the Río Dulce, in the province of Santiago del Estero, it is located on a mineralized hot spring with a radius of 15 km, made up of 14 layers of mesothermal water that reaches 65º and is made up of a large amount of minerals. which give it great curative value. * Las Termas de Río Hondo is strategically located on National Route 9, in direct communication with Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja, Salta and Jujuy, and a few kilometers from the airports of Santiago del Estero and San Miguel de Tucumán.

* It has a hotel infrastructure with 170 establishments of different categories that allow you to enjoy the thermal bath in your own room, a unique case in the country.

* Among the alternatives offered by the city and its surroundings, sports stand out: golf; in gastronomy: chivitos, dorados, empanadas and tamales as typical dishes, together with snacks and alfajores made in 8 Terme factories. It is a cultural city with strong traditions, basketry is the oldest craft expression and constitutes an important attraction, craft tradition that is transmitted from generation to generation.

* Only 4 km. the Frontal Dock with its 33,000-hectare lake. It is an ideal place to practice all water sports and "dorado" fishing. An imposing neocolonial-style building houses the Casino de Río Hondo, the largest in the north.

* The National Center for Congresses and Conventions and Gral. San Martín Cultural Center is the scene of great concerts, theater shows, national and international congresses.

*Numerous artistic festivals, clubs, tanguerías, bowling alleys, children's games, horseback riding, museums and historical places such as the Posta de Vinará and Villa Río Hondo are some of the many proposals and recreational activities offered by this tourist city

* Las Termas is the spa city -Thermal of the country that in the middle of autumn and winter the tourist not only enjoys its curative waters, but also a generous and beneficial sun in its outdoor pools, achieving a tan in the best Caribbean style The Provincial Autodromo "Termas de Río Hondo" It is located 6 km from the center of the city of Las Termas on a 150- hectare property on the edge of the Dique Frontal. It is prepared to receive more than 65,000 spectators and also has 33,000 m2 of boxes, 1,000 m2 of buildings between entrances, control towers, press rooms and a technical inspection shed and parking for 25,000 cars within the perimeter of the autodrome. Circuit No. 1 of the NOA of 4,400 meters. It has a special addition, the straight after turn one, being the longest in Argentina with 1,380mts. The official inauguration took place on May 11, 2008 together with the 6th date of the Road Tourism (TC) before a concurrence of more than 65,000. The Argentine Republic Motorcycle GP Grand Prix has already been confirmed for the 2013, 2014- and 2015 seasons.

Group responsibility

♦ The round trip transportation expenses of the groups outside the City of Las Termas de Río Hondo as well as medical expenses will be assumed by the participating groups. Each group will be accompanied by one of the organizers of the event.

♦ Send the Letter of Commitment to participate in the Festival and the Technical Sheet duly completed by June 30, 2024 (. In the latter, the complete list must be informed with the names of the Festival participants (including coordinator, musicians and driver), gender, Identity Document, differentiating the number of Dancers and Companions.

♦ Send to the coordination of the event, by e-mail or by facebook, material related to the group – history, photographs (from 3 to 6 good quality photos) and other dissemination materials until April 30, 2024 to be included in the festival page welcoming the group to the event.

♦ Entry and Exit of the Hotel: You enter on Thursday 10/12 from 8.30 to 12.00 (previously you must make the corresponding registration in the CULTURAL CENTER) and you Exit on Monday 10/16 at 10.00 (you have lunch at the hotel), the bags are left in a room, at 1:30 p.m. the LAST GALA begins and the subsequent CLOSING ACT.

 ♦ They will take place in 3 scenarios simultaneously and in parallel. All have state-of-the-art LED SCREENS, SOUND AND LIGHTING.

1st SETTING: Homero Manzi Room belonging to the General San Martín Cultural and Craft Center, located at Av. Belgrano and Suipacha. It has a stage of 14 meters in front and 10 meters deep. A room with seats for 1,400 people and a pulman for 300 people. 2nd. “Hermanos Abalos” STAGE, behind the Cultural Center, in Parque Martín Miguel de Güemes, is 12 x 8 meters. 3rd. STAGE: “Daniel Nene Varela”, in front of the Casino de Termas, is 12 x 8 meters and 1.50 meters high. Each group will make two presentations, ONE in the Homero Manzi Room and the other in any of the 2 named scenarios. If a ballet brings two groups, it will also perform two presentations with each group as previously detailed. Each group will make two presentations, ONE in the Homero Manzi Room and the other in any of the 2 named scenarios. If a ballet brings two groups, it will also perform two presentations with each group as previously detailed.

♦ The performance time of each group, per day, must be up to 12', MAXIMUM TIME including entrance and greeting, considering essential punctuality to respect the program and the presentations will take place any of the 3 days of Dance: Friday 13, Saturday 14 or Sunday 15. The order and day of presentation will be established by the organization.

♦ On Monday the 16th from 3:00 p.m., awards and reminders and global photos of all the participating groups will be delivered, there is no dancing that day. Bring Flags of the Province and the Country, as well as distinctive Banners of each delegation.

Festival Responsibilities • FOREIGN delegations may attend the Festival with a limit of 13 DANCERS AND ONE DIRECTOR and 100% of their stay in our city will be covered from their arrival to their departure from it. Lodging in categorized hotels in our city in base, triple and quadruple rooms, with pools and thermal water.

♦ RECEPTION OF THE DELEGATIONS: will be at the GENERAL SAN MARTIN CULTURAL CENTER, located at Av. Belgrano and Suipacha, on Thursday 11, at 8:00 am. 12:00 p.m. Once the delegation is REGISTERED and after having received the corresponding BAUCHER, you can go to the assigned hotel with said voucher. Each group will have a guide, fixed contact during the stay in Termas de RH.

♦ It will also cover a ride in buses granted by the organization and guided by specialized tourism personnel, where the main tourist attractions of the City will be visited: Downtown, Costanera (4 km), Tara Inti Island (Nature Reserve), El Dique and Lake Frontal, Provincial Autodrome, International Airport, historical sites, etc. In addition to a Group Photo, Distinctions and Reminders, there will also be a Fellowship Meeting and entertainment among the teachers and directors of the different participating groups.

♦ It also covers an Insurance for Personal Accidents on stage, for each Dancer. For this, a list must be sent 30 days in advance, which will be sent to them in a timely manner once the group's entry into the Festival is confirmed.

♦ On THURSDAY, October 12, a massive parade will take place through the central streets of the city, this time we will carry out a MARCH OF BANDS – the creators of this wonderful cultural movement will be present: TERE CASTRONUOVO AND THE INDIAN FROILAN GONZALEZ-, each ballet You can, (it is not mandatory) bring your BOMBO and parade with it. The OPENING ACT #FIFAS2022 in front of the Casino del Sol and the traditional FIESTA DE LA TELESITA that will try to break the record of the 2024 edition where there were 4,000 dancers dancing half chacareiras (as the historical legend of Santiago tells it). At night (of that day), a great WELCOME PARTY will be held, a feast among all the participating delegations in a venue conditioned as a Bowling Alley, it will be exclusive for the members of the 17th INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL “ASHPA SÚMAJ”, free of charge.

♦ SUNDAY 15: After lunch and from 2:00 p.m. the 3rd will take place. Show Gala. From 8:00 p.m. The GRAN PEÑA DEL #FIFAS2024 will begin, it will be held on the premises of the MUNICIPAL GOLF COURT and will have the presence of Singers and Musicians. It will be exclusively for members of the ASHPA SÚMAJ International Festival.

♦ FIFAS2024 CONSECRATION AWARDS: The objective of the Festival is the integration and friendship of the peoples of the world, which is why it is NON-COMPETITIVE, but rather learning and coexistence among the participating delegations. However, we want to recognize the work of the groups from the public present, for this, upon entering the Cultural Center, each attendee will be given a paper where they must choose, at their discretion, THE DELEGATION OF THE CONSECRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL "ASHPA SÚMAJ" in the categories: FOREIGNERS, MINORS, ADULTS AND OLDER. They will receive a plaque to commemorate the distinction obtained.

♦ The Organization of the Festival reserves the RIGHTS TO FILM AND PHOTOGRAPH the presentations for registration and commercialization of DVDs with images of the same. Likewise, it is not responsible for accidents, thefts or any other type of inconvenience suffered by the participants and/or companions.

The groups pay only for registration fee of 25 euro per person.

Number of seats is limited!!!.