Milonga - Tango in Belgium

El Dorado, Humbeek

Peter — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:29:36 +0000

The floor at El Dorado was not optimal this Sunday due to the effects of a party the day before, but Bart discovered the mini dance floor upstairs with an excellent parquet and before long lots of dancers followed.

Full album here: El Dorado @ Humbeek (Flickr)

Milonga del Tintoretto

Peter — Sun, 20 May 2012 08:12:04 +0000

Brussels has a new monthly milonga: Salvatore started organizing the Milonga Del Tintoretto in the Italian restaurant/wine bar Tintoretto, close to Schuman.

You can start the evening with some good Italian food, drink a delicious Spritz to get you in the mood, and dance around the grand piano for the rest of the evening.

Full album is here: Milonga del Tintoretto (Flickr)

Upcoming: Tango Antwerp Festival, 25 – 28 May

Peter — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:34:46 +0000

In two weeks it’s festival time again in Belgium, this time in Antwerp. It is the 3rd edition of the Tango Antwerp Festival, that brings you international maestros, a top orchestra, excellent DJs and lots of dancing.

The festival starts on Friday May 25th with a big salon in the magnificent Roma venue. The orchestra Ensemble Hyperion will play, and all the visiting maestros will present themselves.

On Saturday, we move to the Kielpark, where we will get a demo from Yannick & Liz, Pasquale Bloise & Monica Gi and Anibal Lautaro & Valeria Maside.

On Sunday, in the same location, we get a demo from Sven & Sonja, Los Hermanos Macana and Roberto Herrera & Lorena Goldestein.

The closing milonga, on Monday, will bring us a surprise, so we are told.

The DJs are DJ Ben, DJ Paky, DJ Francesco el Actor and DJ Marie-Jeanne. For the workshops, pre-parties, after-parties: check tangoantwerpfestival.com.

Upcoming: Marathon del Chocolate in August

Peter — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:09:51 +0000

Just like last year, Sidar and his Chocolate team organizes the most Belgian of tango marathons: Marathon del Chocolate. From 10-12 August, you can dive into a smooth running event with half a dozen sweet DJs from all over Europe, and an abundance of delicious dancers from across the globe. All the flavors at your disposal, but light enough to have many.
For the moment, leaders and couples can still register, and followers will be added to a waiting list. Register now if you want to join!

BTF2012 Dress code voting: the winners

Peter — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:34:45 +0000

As you might remember, there was a contest with a dress code every evening of the festival and a lot of people paticipated and gave each night its own color. The voting happened on Facebook and was just terminated. The following couples win a free milonga pass for BTF2013 each.

Thursday ‘FIRE’:

Lisa & Olivier – 76 votes

Friday ‘OCEAN’:

Elsa & Mihai – 74 votes

Saturday ‘CLOUDS’:

Faustine & Patrick – 94 votes

Sunday ‘FLOWERS’:

Anna Lucia & Alessandro

Monday ‘CRAZY’:

Hélène, Nora, Ines, Lisa & Inge
They’re five in the picture, and they win 2 milonga passes, so they will have to do some major negotiation.

Thank you everyone who participated and had fun with the dress codes. It gave an extra taste to the festival and made a lot of people smile.
To the winners: send your details to tangopaparazzo@gmail.com and I will make sure you’re on the list for next year!

Brussels Tango Festival : the photos

Peter — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 16:21:25 +0000

(via brusselstangofestival.be)

All the official photos of the BTF2012 can be found here:
www.flickr.com/photos/pforret/sets/72157629271750388/

Saturday: tango in the metro

Peter — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:09:39 +0000

UPDATE: due to dramatic events the Brussels metro has been shut down, and Tango in the metro has been cancelled!

This Saturday April 7th, join 60 tango couples from 3 until 4 pm in 15 metro stations of Brussels… And bring along your tango shoes of course!

The STIB/MIVB will be playing tango music through the speakers while more than 60 couples will dance. The aim is to show, share and promote this art and our common passion. (and psssst: there’s a tango festival here really soon!)

So be there next Saturday, too!

The 15 Metro Stations where you can join the 60 couples to dance along are:
Arts-Loi – Botanique – De Brouckère – Gare Centrale – Gare de l’Ouest – Hermann-Debroux – Louise – Mérode – Montgomery – Porte de Hal – Porte de Namur – Roodebeek – Saint-Guidon – Simonis – Stockel

Reopening of café Floreo

Peter — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:22:38 +0000

It had been closed for renovation for a while, so lots of people were happy when Sandra reopened the Floreo for the Tuesday practica. It’s a tad larger than before, and the cocktails are still top notch.

Full album on Flickr: Café Floreo

Saturday: RTBF is filming at Maalbeek

Peter — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:11:28 +0000

This Saturday (31 March) there is the milonga at De Maalbeek, with a live concert by Taconeando (with Eduardo Baró as singer & guitarist, Patrick Vankeirsblick on bandoneon and Michel Van der Meiren on bass).
But there’s even more: the RTBF (Belgian FR television) will be there to shoot some dancing scenes and interviews with dancers. Please show up in big numbers, so that they get a good idea of the Brussels tango scene. Come early too, as they start shooting during the preceding workshop (Nathalie & Andres) and will continue during the first part of the milonga. Hope to see you soon on TV!

Brussels Tango Festival 2012: photo dress codes

Peter — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:24:03 +0000

During the Brussels tango festival (April 12-16) , the Tango Paparazzo -as always- will take pictures of all you dancers, but the people who want, can dress up in the theme of that evening. The best pictures of dancers-in-theme will be put in a Facebook album per evening so you can all vote for the SALON QUEEN & KING. The winners get full milonga passes for the next edition of the BTF!

THURSDAY = FIRE

Inspiration: red, orange, yellow and anything caliente

FRIDAY = OCEAN

Inspiration: blue, green, turquoise and anything liquid

SATURDAY = CLOUDS

Inspiration: white, beige, grey and anything fluffy

SUNDAY = FLOWERS

Inspiration: colorful, floral, springy and anything joyful

MONDAY = CRAZY

Inspiration: crazy pants, shoes, skirts, hats, tattoos and anything off-the-hook

Photos: Maison du Peuple, March 2012

Peter — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:39:13 +0000

The last time I took pictures at Maison du Peuple was about a year ago. And the time before that, 2009, also in March. There must be something with the beginning of spring that drives me there.

Gisela, Sergio and DJ El Chinito made everybody feel welcome and joyful.

Full album here: Maison Du Peuple

Photos: Basta la oficina @ Tour & Taxis

Peter — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:27:01 +0000

If you want to end the work week with a milonga but still want to be in bed before midnight, then a good option is the monthly Basta La Oficina in the Magic Mirrors tent.

The inside of the tent, its mirrors and wooden interior, breathes forgotten glory of a century ago. The music is slightly more recent.

Full album is here: Magic Mirrors @ Milonga.be

Photos: Museum Night Fever

Peter — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:35:31 +0000

It was indeed a very special evening, dancing between the T-Rex’es and iguanodons. Bruxelles Aires Tango Orchestra gave us three concerts and Dirk played music that, compared to the inhabitants of the museum, was very contemporary. There were modern dancers hanging from the ceiling, peculiar music meing played live in different corners and lots of visitors to witness it all.

The full album: Museum Night Fever

Dance amongst the dinosaurs @ Museum of Natural Sciences

Peter — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:54:07 +0000

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences

This weekend there is the unique opportunity to dance tango inside the Brussels Museum of Natural Sciences: Museum Night Fever organizes dozens of events in museums in Brussels. In the Natural Sciences Museum, you can go see the Bruxelles Aires Tango Orchestra, and dance to the music of DJ Dirk. See you there!

Bruxelles Aires Tango Orchestra

DJ Dirk

Upcoming workshops

Peter — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:56:59 +0000

Check the workshop agenda to see what special workshops are being taught in the coming weeks, like:

Maryline & Vincent @ Garage 29 (Brussels)
Jenny & Frank @ Espace Catastrophe (Brussels)
Gladys Fernandez @ St Gilles (Brussels)
Valeria Maside @ Polariteit (Gent)
Oscar Busso @ Tangoquerido (Brussels)
Silvio La Via & Michelle Castro @ Tangorrion (Gent)
Marisa & Oliver @ Tangueria (Brussels)
…

Photos: Bruxelles Aires @ café Kafka

Peter — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:27:05 +0000

It should be clear by now that I’m a fan of the Bruxelles Aires Tango Orchestra. They performed again in café Kafka last weekend, and it was a really nice evening.

All picture of their concerts are in the BATO album.

Photos: Pibe Avellaneda @ Casa 32

Peter — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:48:46 +0000

Pibe Avellaneda came to Antwerp to give some workshops and also performed at the ‘Bal Masqué’ in Casa32. His partner of the evening was Valeria Maside. Avellaneda represents more than 50 years of tango experience, and the combination with the smile, the elegance and the -let’s be honest- great legs of Valeria made for an excellent demo.

The ‘bal masqué’ theme inspired a lot of dancers to dress up and wear masks, and made the atmosphere very relaxed and joyful. Smiles all over while DJ Li-belle kept the vibe going.

Full album on Flickr: Casa 32

Photos: first Tangueria of 2012

Peter — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:44:57 +0000

My first Tangueria of the year: meeting a lot of friends, taking pictures of some of my favourite models, and some nice dancing to the music of DJ Stephan. Life is good.

Full album here: Tangueria

Photos: Gran Milonga in Brugge

Peter — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:04:28 +0000

In the beautiful foyer of the 1869 Brugse Stadsschouwburg, there was an equally classy milonga, organized by Pasos de Brujas. The planned demo by Alma & Aldo had been cancelled, but we were lucky to have Sonja & Sven and their mentors Marisa & Oliver in the milonga, who gave us a double demo.

DJ Marie-Jeanne entertained the dancers with a mix of classics and some alternative tango, in an absolutely stunning venue.

Full album is here: Flickr – Tango in Brugge

Most popular milonga.be photo of 2011

Peter — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:52:40 +0000

Thousands of pictures of people dancing on milonga.be and the most popular seems to be one of a lady waiting for a dance! Not sure what the message is there. Should I take more pictures of people that are not dancing? Or do a lot of the female voters sympathize with the feeling in the picture?

If the lady in the picture would step forward, that would be nice because I have no idea anymore who she was, and the ring itself is not enough information.

For info, this is the rest of the top 5 of 2011: