The Zinneke Parade

The 19 May 2012, the Zinneke Parade will once again march through the centre of Brussels! This biennial parade is organised by and for all the people of Brussels to celebrate the city’s multiculturalism. The theme for the next Zinneke Parade is Disorder.

What is Zinneke?

Zinnekes will fill the streets of Brussels with song and dance. Zinnekes are the people of Brussels, proud of their mixed roots and glad to be living there. In Brussels dialect, a zinneke is also a mongrel.

Long preparations always precede the Zinneke parade. This colourful and skilfully created parade is only the showpiece of the Zinneke Project: a joint venture involving inhabitants, clubs and associations, schools and artists from various neighbourhoods from Brussels and far beyond. The intention is to give Brussels inhabitants the opportunity to meet each other, exchange ideas and cooperate creatively. Zinneke organises several cultural and artistic anticipated  initiatives.

What is a Zinnode?

Zinneke works through zinnodes. A zinnode is a multidisciplinary procession comprising about 100 people who, together, tell a story all their own. In preparation for the parade, each zinnode organises open workshops (for anyone and everyone) and several specific workshops (in schools, care homes, day centres, youth clubs, community centres, etc.). They are led by performers, are free, and give everyone the chance to shine in the things they like doing: from designing costumes, building musical instruments and acting to learning circus skills and oriental dance.

The Brussels-Europe Liaison Office and Zinneke

The Zinneke parade brings together Brussels residents from all kinds of origins and age groups. Expats, however, are underrepresented in Zinneke, which is what we are trying to change. In the run-up to the next parade the Brussels-Europe Liaison Office has organise a multilingual information session to whip up support among the expat community for Zinneke.

The ZOT HERBE FOL - Etterbeek’s zinnode - presents 'Poetic madness', a workshop for adults. During this Zinneke workshop you will learn some elementary means of expression that are within everybody's reach. Professional artists teach you how to breathe and use your voice and body in a creative way by respecting and listening to your own rhythm. Create your own parade character both inside yourself (research work to stimulate the performer) and outside yourself (research work on the costume and character’s accessories). Every Thursday evening from 6.30 to 9 pm (starting on 19th January) at the Etterbeek-Espace Senghor Cultural Centre.