306 TRAVELLERS’ NEEDS
LISTINGS
Free listings for all forms of
entertainment are available at
the tourist offices, or in shops,
hotels and bars. The English-
language weekly, The Bulletin
(see p88), carries information
about major cultural events all
over Belgium. Likewise, lead-
ing newspapers (see p329)
also carry event listings.
There are several useful
websites, notably xPats, Net
Events and Visit Belgium, site
of the Belgian tourist office in
USA and Canada. Cinema list-
ings can be found online at
Cinebel and Cinenews. Jazz
details are available at Jazz in
Belgium, while rock and pop
concert information is given at
the Music in Belgium site. Club
and disco listings can be found
at Noctis and Dance Vibes.
BALLET AND DANCEContemporary dance is strong
in Belgium and has had a huge
international impact. Among
its leaders is Anna Teresa de
Keersmaeker and her Rosas
company (see p88). Charleroi/
Danses is the company of
the Centre Chorégraphique
de la Communauté Française
Wallonie-Bruxelles. Directed
by Michèle Anne de Mey
and others, it performs at Les
Écuries in Charleroi, and at
La Raffinerie in Brussels. The
world-renowned Royal BalletCLASSICAL MUSICVery high standards of music
are maintained by Belgium’s
leading music schools, such
as the Conservatoire Royal de
Musique in Brussels and the
Conservatoire Royal de Liège.
The capital has several impor-
tant concert halls (see p88),
but all major cities have their
equivalents. One to look out
for is the extremely modern
Concertgebouw in Bruges.
The Salle Philharmonique de
Liège, former concert hall of
the Conservatoire, is now
operated by the Philharmonic
Orchestra of Liège. Concerts
are also held at the splendid
Art Deco Le Forum. Classical
and other types of music are
performed at both Koningin
Elisabethzaal and the modernOpera House in Ghent (see
p135) and La Monnaie in
Brussels (see p88) are both
sumptuously elegant in the
traditional 18th-century style.
Ghent and Antwerp mount
performances by the well-
known Flemish company, De
Vlaamse Opera, while Liège is
the home of the Opéra Royal
de Wallonie. Operas also take
place in the main theatres of
Charleroi, Mons and Namur.A spirited performance of the popular classical Swan Lake ballet by the Royal Ballet of Flanders
ENTERTAINMENT IN BELGIUM
I
n an understated manner,
Belgium has a thriving cul-
tural life, showcasing top-quality international and regional
performers in all fields. The coun-
try has produced major talent,
particularly in modern dance,
film and in the contemporary
arts scene. On a more communal level,
town squares and parks host a variety of
concerts, usually during summer,
for the benefit of local citizens. It
is also for their entertainment that
most Belgian bars encourage
musicians, while clubs and dance
halls provide venues for more
interactive fun. Among more tra-
ditional attractions are the many
vibrant carnivals, whose colourful pag-
eants involve all levels of the society.of Flanders is established in
Antwerp, but performs across
Belgium and internationally.
Dance performances feature
in most theatres and concert
venues around the country.OPERA
Belgium has four major opera
houses – in Antwerp, Brussels,
Ghent and Liège. The Vlaamse
Magazines on
sale in Brussels