More than 50,000 people were at the Brussels pedestrian zone on Saturday afternoon, to watch the 9th Zinneke parade. The theme was “fragil”, according to the head of communication Dis Huyghe, who was working with the police to come up with the figures.
The organisers described the parade as especially moving. “I was told that dead flowers were replaced with living ones”, says Dis Huyghe. “Zinnekes were in tears on the Stock Exchange steps”. Director Myriam Stoffen felt the same: “during the collective moment at the Stock Exchange after 5.30pm, we celebrated the beauty that human strength can create when in harmony. It was very emotional. It was a moment of communion between those in the parade and the public, a moment of joy shared as homage to life. It was made all the more important by this symbolic place. It was extremely moving”.
The project “In de Nuages” explored a poetic universe with Molenbeek-Saint-Jean children, who worked with artists. “Hoboes” drew people living rough in the United States at the start of the 20th century, focusing on their strength of regeneration. For “The elderly dream”, elderly people offer moments to reflect and just breathe for the first time. Backed by a piano, the group “Jack”, dressed in suit and tie, invited spectators to dance.
At the end of the parade, the public could vote for the theme of the 10th Zinneke parade, which will take place in 2018. They could vote at the offices in rue Ortis until 7pm. The themes offered are Other, Detour, Horizon, Illegal, and Pause. The internet vote will close on the 12th of June, and the theme will be announced on the 25th of June.
(Source: Belga)
