Dancing, Brussels

Aaaaaaaah... Le Sud!
An old acquaintance, so to speak. When I first got to Brussels, going into Le Sud was tantamount to entering a speakeasy. First of all, it was not safe (as in not complying to safety building code) and frankly, not legal. But the club had been able to gather a consistent crowd of "underground-hipsters" faithfully hooked on peanuts and Le Sud's vodka-citron. Personally, I ended up there just following my way cooler than me friends. The place looked like a squat and the decor was like one of a tired bazaar. That was part of the bohemian ambiance the place had. It was closed several times but now, Le Sud is back.
For those who are wondering, Le Sud is now up-to-code. You will be greeted by a bouncer and yes, he may not be the nicest, but don't be impressed. The entrance will be probably be around 2.50- 3 Euros and if it is still the case, you'll get a card that will give you free access for a year! The peanuts, vodka and Middle-Eastern influenced interior is still there but now, Le Sud has 3 rooms. The main one plays current hits, the smallest one is more techno-oriented, the basement is for "oldies" (understand '80's and 70's).
The crowd: long gone is the era of those "in-the-known". Now, you'll be more likely to bump into young European Union trainees, local students and maybe an old faithfull or two (most of them are too old anyway*;o)*).
The mood: Not snobby or stuffy and with the help of Le Sud's vodka, it gets even friendlier. You're likely to have a great time.

Dress Code: Anything goes.

Most of my time in Brussels involved having an infant and toddler in my life so nightlife, and before she arrived, I was mainly involved in various so called "stagiaire parties" with students lucky enough to have a placement with the European institutions. There are plenty of those parties around if you know someone, and all differ since they are held by different nationalities.

Still, I managed to get out on other things now and again and most of those other things involved music. Brussels having belonged to the great Spanish empire has a strong tradition of salsa and other dance places downtown, just head for the old Place St Gery food halls (near the Bourse) and follow the music, or read the advertisments in local papers.

Another of my favourite pasttimes was the jazz gigs that the city is equally famous for and here, rue Antoine Dansaert in the same area is always a good bet but again, there are plenty of other ones.

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This is T-H-E club in Brussels! I truly wish that more clubs were like this one!!

At first, after a short internet research re. good clubs in Brussels, I'd been a little insecure since this place was always described as being very glamorous and posh, temple of jet-set etc.... but decided to go there anyway. However, when arriving, there were two entrances: "guest list" and "members". I belonged to either category of course, so I just went for any entrance, smiled at the bouncers (sometimes it's practical to be female) and got in:

Great location, fantastic music and DJ's, excellent atmosphere, interesting people - i.e. not the overdressed, tons of makeup or I'm the coolest kind, but all with some style - all very friendly, relaxed and open.

LE CORBEAU
Sint-Michielsstraat 18-20
Beer per liter.
www.lecorbeau.be

DALI’S BAR
Korte beenhouwersstraat 35
The oldest electro bar in town.
www.dalisbar.com

DELIRIUM CAFÉ
Getrouwheidsgang 4a
2004 different sorts of beer!
www.deliriumcafe.be

LE YOU (NIGHTCLUB)
Duquesnoystraat 18
House, electro.
www.leyou.be

LE DUKE’S (NIGHTCLUB)
Kerstenmannekensstraat 2
Trendy, chic
www.dukes.be

In front of the St Gilles Prison, great place to dance tango on Friday evening and last Sunday of the month (from 4pm). The place is relaxed, a lot of sofas, a warm atmosphere with candlelights, etc.... a mix between the old place 'Rue de l'Argonne' and the relaxed tango atmosphere of the dissapeared Rue de l'argonne, the international El Corte (Nijmegen) and Tango Colon (Cologne). The host is Vincent Morelle, one of our internationaly famous Brussels tango teacher ;-)

PRACTICA organised by Al compás del corazón (during and after the lessons given by Marisa&Oliver)

Every Tuesday from 9:30 pm and every Thursday from 8:30 pm (except when there are no classes - check calendar above!) till midnight

Practica is 2,50 euros.

Brussels is a great place to enjoy yourself during nights. I hadn't planed to dance so much but it occured that the atmosphere of Brussels' music clubs and pubs are just awesome. One of them is `La salsa`. This was the place I enjoyed the most. This is rather a tiny club, with limited place but nice music. You will be able to dance here with such music as: salsa & other latino music, etnic (African) and other black music.

What is important - clubs in Brussels are not crowded till about 1 am. This is the hour when people starts to gather in the best bars and dance pubs. Dancing, of course, lasts till the morning.

Second thing is that prices in clubs are not so high (as for example in London). Usually small Haineken costs 2,50 - 3 Euros. To most small clubs you won't pay to enter. However, there are guards and when you leave it is nice and popular to give them some Euros...

Since end of March 2006, you can enjoy dancing Argentinian Tango in a new "Milonga" called "Cellule 133a". Roof partly out of glass, wooden floor, white walls, this new place has features remembering dancers of the sooner Milonga "rue de l'Argonne", also initiated by Vincent, and closed in 2002.

Schedule: each Friday evening (around 10.00 till ...) except the last friday of the month (Milonga BRYC at the Brussels Yacht Club) which is replaced by the Sunday (4.30 pm .. 9pm). Schedules are probably not stable yet and one should ask for confirmation.

Dress Code: Nothing special, but dancing shoes welcome.
Organisers are looking for a way to ventilate the room which tends to be warm: light clothes appropriate.