Milonga - Tango in Belgium » milonga

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

Photos: Tango for Life 2011

Peter — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:47:40 +0000

The first edition of Tango For Life was a big success. In an authentic chappel dozens of tango dancers were being rented for a tanda at a time to raise money for StuBru’s Music for Life.

At the end of the evening, the organizer Ivo was auctioned off for a multiple of the normal taxi price.

The full album is here: Tango for Life

15 years of Marisa & Oliver

Peter — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:26:25 +0000

This weekend Marisa & Oliver celebrate their 15th anniversary of tango together. The Tangueria salon on Sunday welcomes lots of invited maestros and promises to be a party filled with nice demos and sweet memories!

Marisa and Oliver met in the tangoscene back in 1994, when tango was still kind of “underground” in Brussels. They started to work together and became a (tango) couple in 1996, teaching in the mythical “Rue de L’Argonne“, a tango place run by Vincent & Maryline. During 5 years they combined their tango work as teachers, performers and milonga organizers with a regular job at dance company Rosas (Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker). Then, in 2001, they became tango professionals. Another important milestone was the opening in 2006 of their own tango place and school, La Tangueria, which is renowned until today as one of the main milongas in Brussels.
At the 15 year anniversary, they have invited 2 couples who started their careers together with Marisa & Oliver and are still regarded as 2 of the most important tango couples in Belgium today: Sergio & Gisela + Maryline & Vincent. For 15 years these 3 couples have been working together and next to each other in the best understanding, and a solid friendship has grown. Two other couples who have been very important for Marisa & Oliver will also perform on 11th December: Andrès & Nathalie (co-organisers of the Brussels International Tango Festival, together with François Pettiaux), and Birkit & Muzaffer from Utrecht, who have been dancing together with Marisa & Oliver in 4 international tango shows.

Photos: El Pibe Sarandi in BRYC

Peter — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:43:05 +0000

Last weekend Brussels welcomed El Pibe Sarandi, a Buenos Aires maestro with more then 50 years of tango experience. Benedicte and Jens-Ingo invited him to the Brussels Royal Yacht Club. He gave a demo together with Benedicte of his smooth milonga style.

The BRYC is a beautiful place to dance; check out the collection of flags on the wall!

This is the BRYC album.

Photos: La Tentation

Peter — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:17:40 +0000

Every now and then Dante & Monik organize a milonga with performances in La Tentation. This weekend it was the Enrique Nicolas Tango Quartet performing, as well as a demo of both Monik & Dante (tango) and Julio Garrido (zapateo).

The light was low and very red, therefore most pictures are black and white.

All pictures here: Milonga @ La tentation

Maryline & Vincent @ Garage 29

Peter — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:05:27 +0000

It’s always a pleasure to see Maryline & Vincent perform, and so I didn’t want to miss the demo they would give after their workshop at Garage29.

It was also the first time I went to this … garage, and I rather liked its character. The light was a bit difficult on the dancefloor, but thanks to the softboxes close to the bar I could actually take some nice portraits.

DJ Andres, aided by the cutest cortinas, kept spirits high and we danced until way after we were supposed to leave. The two cats that live there, allowed us to stay, although slightly reluctantly, as cats do.

Full album here: Garage 29 at Flickr

Photos: Final Milonga @ Kiosque of the season

Peter — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:49:22 +0000

Just when the logistics of organizing the Milonga @ Kiosque had become a routine, we were taught a lesson by the forces of Random Error and Elaborate Sabotaging. When we arrived, the gates were not open, so we had to carry everything by hand to the Kiosque, and when we had done that and tried to get the music going, we discovered that all options for electricity had been removed. So we had to scramble to find a battery and candles powered solution. This last edition can easily be called the most low-tech, tenebrious and romantic milonga of the summer.

DJ Mala and DJ Philippe, aided by a speaker with 4 AA batteries, made people dance to the light of a dozen candles big and small. Judging by the smiling faces, we didn’t do a bad job. But we might have some extra grey hairs since Saturday.

Photos: Milonga @ Kiosque #5

Peter — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:14:55 +0000

DJ Philippe did an interesting educational experiment last Kiosque: he had printed out all composers, orchestras and singers, and kept us informed during every tanda who was playing. It was a nice touch to a cosy milonga.

There was rain announced, but our own guardian milonguero from above kept it dry. We had cake and drinks and danced until the end!

Photos: El Flaco Dany in Brussels

Peter — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 10:00:17 +0000

The legendary Flaco Dany visited Brussels and we saw him at a very unique location: the Brussels Royal Yacht Club. It had been years since there was a milonga in this place.

Dany gave a demo of four milongas, and I don’t mean slow ones, in a row and, together with Lucia Mirzan, showed everyone how he earned his reputation.

And then there was lots of dancing next to the canal, with the excellent music of DJ Jens-Ingo.

Photos: Milonga @ Kiosque #4

Peter — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 08:40:50 +0000

The fourth edition of the Kiosque milonga was a delight. Apart from some sporadic drizzle, it was a perfect outdoor dancing occasion. DJ Mala not only took care of beautiful music, she also made a delicious Баница for the dancers.

We saw some new faces, visitors from the Marathon del Chocolate, and others who just happened to pass by, and it was good to see
everyone having fun.

Photos: Milonga du soleil

Peter — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:17:30 +0000

The summer is an active tango time in Brussels, an example of that is the new milonga on Saturdays: Milonga du Soleil. Last week’s edition featured a demo from a couple teachers from Paris: Ariane and Ozgur. Ozgur has been coming to Brussels often, and never fails to look good on pictures, partly because he makes his partners smile. And some of the people watching too.

Milonga du Soleil is organized by pretty much the same people as the Marathon del Chocolate. Busy guys, Andrej and Sidar. The venue is in what seems to be a converted garage, and the floor and music leave nothing to be desired.

All pics in the album.
Al

Kiosque #2: the photos

Peter — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:33:48 +0000

It was kind of an unusual Kiosque this Saturday. When we arrived to set up the milonga, there was a guy sleeping in the kiosque. As we started making a bit of noise, he got up, apologized and moved to a tent just outside the kiosque to resume his sleep. Because it started raining around 5pm, lots of non-tango people came to look for shelter under the kiosque roof and watched intrigued as the first tangueros arrived and started dancing.

We know the weather was sub-optimal, so we really appreciate everyone who came and shared the experience with us. It was a memorable evening, with DJ Mala under an umbrella, with home-made banitsa, the sound of the raindrops mixing with Lomuto, and Biagi inspiring people to keep warm by dancing.

Kiosque #1: the photos

Peter — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:45:37 +0000

DJ Jens-Ingo’s debut at Milonga @ Kiosque was a clear success. His musicality, combined with the bursts of sun and a cool breeze, made for a crowd ful of smiling dancers:

Next edition: July 16 with DJ Mala!
See all photos in the Kiosque album

This Saturday at 6PM: Kiosque with DJ Jens-Ingo

Peter — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:35:06 +0000

Silly me, I forgot to put the starting hour on the flyer:
the milonga @ Kiosque starts at 6PM (18:00), until 11PM (23:00).
First edition: this Saturday, with DJ Jens-Ingo.
If you want to dance in the sun, come early!

Tango Masivo in Belgium!

Peter — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 17:22:49 +0000

The newly started ‘Tango Masivo‘ comes to Belgium. Some of you might have seen Kay Sleking (guitar/bass) in Milonga de Gante with a duo, but now he comes with a big group of musicians!
Wednesday 15/6 – 14h00-17h30: Masterclass tango music (Antwerpen) – organized by TangoAlegre (Astrid)
Wednesday 15/6 – 20h30-01:00: Milonga with Cuarteto TANGO MASIVO (Brussels) – organized by Monik & Dante
Thursday 16/6 – 19h00-01:00: Salon with Orquesta Tipica TANGO MASIVO (Antwerpen) – organized by TangoAlegre & EstarBien
Check the agenda!

Tango Masivo means tango with mass and thats exactly the keynote of this orquesta. Strong melodic lines with a rhythm that underlines the heavy movement in order to take the dancer and music lover into a tango trip.

Guitarist/contrabassplayer Kay Sleking brought the tangueros from Buenos Aires, Spain, France, Peru, Finland and The Netherlands together. The repertoire exists of new arrangement and compositions of pianist, arranger en composer Julian Peralta (Astillero), who is the pianist of the orquesta. The bandoneon section is formed by Mariano Gonzales Calo (Astillero), Victor Hugo Villena (Gotan Project, El Despues) and Claudio Constantini. The violin section is formed by Martijn van der Linden (Astillero, Sexteto Canyengue), Suvi Myohanen, Alicia Alonso and cello player Eva van de Poll (Pavadita).

Next to instrumental pieces tango singer Maria Jose Ortiz captures you in the lyrics of longing and solitude.

Opening night Tangobsession

Peter — Tue, 31 May 2011 21:18:51 +0000

Update: some pictures from the evening

(album: Tango Bar)

—–
This weekend is the official opening of a new Brussels tango school: Tangobsession (Adia & Riccardo). They have invited Jenny Gil et Frank Obrégon, who were also here for the Brussels festival in April.

Jenny et Frank will be giving workshops from Thursday 2 June until Sunday 5 June. See the details on agenda.milonga.be. And they will of course be the guests of honor on the first Tangobsession milonga, on Saturday in the Tango Bar. Not only will there be a demo, but you also get 2 DJs for the price of one: DJ Emilie & DJ Mala are playing together! The party starts at 19h with a buffet!

Summer 2011 arrives: Milonga @ Kiosque!

Peter — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:29:50 +0000

Just like the past seven years, Brussels gets its own outdoor milonga in ‘La Glorieta‘ style again! Starting on Saturday July 2nd and the every 2 weeks until Sept 10. Good music, happy faces and with some help from above: beautiful sunlight. Don’t miss it!

Photos: Tango Tinto in La Tentation

Peter — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:52:41 +0000

Thursday brought us a concert by the Argentinian/Italian group Tango Tinto, in the magnificent La Tentation. Tango music to dance to, and that’s what everybody did with pleasure. Thank to Monik & Dante for the organisation!

her is the album: Tango @ La Tentation

Photos: Maison du Peuple, March 2011

Peter — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:00:34 +0000

Sometimes you see the strangest things happening at milongas. Two veteran milongueros dancing together. Between them, probably more than 50 years of tango experience. Who invited who?