FESTIVAL RULES

1. Vocal Solo and Vocal Ensembles

Participants present a program of 2 different compositions.
The first composition must fully disclose the vocal skills of performers in modern style.
The second composition must be chosen from the list of songs made by the expert council of the Festival in order to increase the cultural and performing skills of the participants of the Festival and their spiritual self.
The list is posted on the official website of the Festival. Performance of folk songs of the peoples living in the Russian Federation shall be an asset.
Background dances can be used to enhance the performance and help evaluate the synthesis of vocal and artistic skills of the participant(s).
At each stage a composition must not exceed 3.5 minutes in length. This time limit is a prerequisite.
IT IS STRONGLY REQUIRED to state the authors of the music and lyrics of the performed compositions, the exact name of the compositions (note “A song from the repertoire...” is not allowed), and provide Russian translation of the songs if performed in a foreign language (the translation of the songs must be attached to the participant’s registration form) in the registration form.
Those performing in the final and semi-final must provide files on 2 sound carriers.
Participants of the Superfinal must also submit to the Executive Direction of the Festival a pre-recorded track on a CD, a flash drive (memory stick), a mini disk to release a CD of the “Constellation-Yoldyzlyk” Festival with songs performed by the laureates and winners of the Festival.
The participant will be disqualified by the jury for performing at any of the qualifying rounds to a pre-recorded track which contains vocals of any kind.
Singers of zonal finals and the Superfinal are required to have a performance costume. Background dances, scenic design and staging of the performance will be appreciated.
Vocalists and vocal ensembles with opera repertoire are not admitted to the contest.
In case a performer copies the style, scenic image and arrangements of songs of popular Russian and foreign artists, the participant’s score is reduced by 25%.
All the performers’ soundtracks must be signed legibly stating the zone of participation, the city (district) represented, performer’s surname and first name, nomination, age group, name of the composition, track number and timing.
The participant must have extra material (non-applied at the Festival) so that the jury may, in case of non-compliance of the repertoire or other necessity, ask the participant to perform any other composition from their repertoire.

2. Choreography

Participants must submit a repertoire of 2 dances.
The repertoire must be performed to a high-quality soundtrack recorded on a CD, a flash drive (memory stick), or a minidisc. A sound carrier for the finals and the Superfinal must necessarily be a minidisc or a CD in 2 copies.
Participation in the nomination Choreography implies a repertoire of modern pop dances, including modern jazz, acrobatic gymnastics, tap dance, hip-hop / funk, freestyle (a composition that combines all forms of dance styles or a composition that does not fit any of the categories listed above).
Performers and groups of classic and ballroom dances are not allowed to compete in the Festival. Solo dances are not allowed to participate.
The duration of a performance shall be no more than 4 minutes.
All the performers’ soundtracks must be signed legibly stating the zone of participation, the city (district) represented, performer’s surname and first name, nomination, age group, name of the composition, track number and timing.
IT IS STRONGLY REQUIRED to state the authors of the music, the exact (correct) name of the compositions (note “A song from the repertoire...” is not allowed), Russian translation of the songs if performed in a foreign language (the translation of the songs must be attached to the participant’s registration form) in the registration form.

3. Announcer

ROUND 1
2 performances (for all ages). The duration of each performance is no more than 2 minutes.
The task of the first round (both performances) is to introduce the next performance and the performer in a creative way. The introduction is required to contain information about the group (the performer) and the composition performed. Form of presentation is arbitrary: prose, poetry, spoken genre, pantomime, extravaganza, sketches, interviews with performers, etc.
Particular attention will be paid to the matching of the selected presentation of a performer (group) to the nature of the performed composition (it is not permitted to use humor and sketches to introduce serious compositions). Violation of this paragraph, leads to the disqualification of the participant from the next stage of the contest.
It is a prerequisite to keep to the timing of the performance. For violation of the timing the jury reduces the performer(s)’ score.
ROUND 2
First performance. It is required that a performance does not exceed 2 minutes in length.
Participants under the age of 10
The task of the second round is similar to the first round. Young announcers must introduce other performers who were presented by them in the first round.
Participants aged 10 and older
Participants of this age group must also announce a performer (group) taking into account all the conditions stipulated in the conditions of the first round, but the name of the group or the performer will be given to them before going on stage according to the draw system.

Note to all the stages of the contest in the nomination Announcer:
- special music or noise background may be used to announce participants;
- the announcer must be dressed in accordance with the task set before him or her and contribute to the image, their recognition, and comply with his or her age;
-if props are used during the announcer’s performance, they should not be bulky but simple and not require advance preparation of the technical group. If that happens, then the work with props must be drilled and be supported by the performer’s own technical team. The technical direction of the Festival must be informed about it in advance in written form;
- members of the jury, at their discretion, may ask the participant questions and offer him or her to find a solution to the proposed issue at any stage of the contest;
- interactive games with the audience are not welcome.

4. Best Music to a Song

Participants submit an unlimited number of their own compositions. The compositions must be presented in the form of traditional music notation together with the lyrics (legibly and clearly written), or be recorded by the composer himself or herself with instrumental accompaniment or a cappella on a CD, DVD, or MD (professional studio recording is not required) and must meet the modern pop genre.
All the materials submitted to the Direction of the Festival will not be returned.

5. Best Lyrics

Participants submit an unlimited number of their own compositions. The compositions must be presented in the form of printed texts or in digital form (a flash drive, a storage drive, a CD, a DVD).
All the materials submitted to the Direction of the Festival will not be returned.

6. Best Video Clip

Participants submit videos created with the participation of the contestants of the Festival who definitely participate in the nominations Vocal Solo, Vocal Ensembles and Choreography. The works must conform to the modern pop genre, be of high artistic and performance quality, and be submitted for the competition on the following media - Betacam SP, DVD, or miniDV.

Compliance with all copyright and property rights of the participants is guaranteed by the Organizing Committee of the Festival. Competitive applications and compositions are sent via postal mail, bypassing the zonal rounds, directly to Kazan to the Executive Direction at 23/6 Karl Marx Street, Kazan 420111, Russia tel: +7 843 238 00 63.

e-mail: yold-rt@mail.ru

All the materials submitted to the Direction of the Festival will not be returned.