"I mean, we're not really vampires," he said, reaching for his pocket, and taking out a round plastic container. He hid his face with one of his long black sleeves for a few seconds before turning back to me and smiling. "I just remembered I had to put in my teeth," he said, showcasing his sharp fangs.
It was a balmy Saturday night in April in Brussels. It goes without saying that it was not any regular night. After all, I was at the centre of all things fantastical in the Belgian capital: the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF).
While the film screenings are the main attraction, BIFFF offers a broad range of activities, one of which caught the eye of The Brussels Times' Editor in Chief: the Vampire Ball on 19 April.
"In spring? Why?" he asked at an editorial meeting. As the one reporter who regularly dresses in all black, it was a no-brainer who should attend the vampire gathering. "You already have your outfit after all," my editor said, nodding at my colourless attire.
A few days later, I found myself outside Brussels Expo in Heysel, moving past a crowd of fantasy creatures and bumping into a ghostly-looking woman holding a – certainly haunted – doll, waiting for the official start of the ball.
'Open bar for fantasy'
Though this was my first time at the event, the ball was celebrating its 40th anniversary in Brussels. "It was the idea of the founders of the festival in 1985. It was a small homage to the Polański movie, the 'Dance of the Vampires'," said BIFFF head of press, Jonathan Lenaerts.
While other films could be fitting candidates for themes, the simplicity of vampires made the ball stand the test of time, explained Lenaerts. The ability to hide behind a costume has also contributed to the event's success. "Since you have to be disguised or have some make-up on, our guests love to be at the vampire ball because no one recognises them. They can have a marvellous evening without being bothered," he added.
Decorations and details at the Vampire Ball. Credit: The Brussels Times
In its early days, the ball was quite faithful to its cinematic inspiration. "The first year, it was in the Métropole hotel in the centre of Brussels. They were really disguised as classical vampires just like in the film and they were not playing hard rock, it was classical music, some minuets," Lenaerts explained.
The 'chill zone' at the Vampire ball. Credit: The Brussels Times
40 years later, the event was revamped to become more inclusive of different music genres and creatures."Now there are DJ sets and hard rock music, different costumes, vampires, werewolves, whatever you want. It's like an open bar for fantasy," Lenaerts added.
Since making the ball free of charge in 2023, Lenaerts says BIFFF has witnessed a revival of the party. "It's a phoenix being reborn. Now it's just a crazy night every year at BIFFF. I think we have between 600 to 800 people dancing," he said.
'Crazy about vampires'
Now fully fanged, the man in front of me, as well as his partner, put my attempt at a vampire-like costume to shame: white face paint, pointy ears, bushy overgrown eyebrows, and blood-stained teeth. "It's Nosferatu," he said. "The original one – not the remake," his wife promptly added.
A mathematician and an academic, the couple had travelled from Germany to attend the Vampire Ball, for the third time. "We are a bit crazy about vampires," she said.
Credit: The Brussels Times
But their passion for dressing up goes beyond the undead. "Last year, we went to France for a 'Belle Époque' event," he said. "It's a hobby," his wife added. "We've been together for more than 30 years. The idea is that he doesn't have to go out with the same woman," she laughed.
While they are not new to the fantasy scene, every year is a new challenge. "We try to invent something every year, something new for us, something to try out," she explained. "Sometimes we go to the UK, and we've been to Mardi Gras in the US. We combine our travel with our costume ideas," she added.
Vampire business card. Credit: The Brussels Times
At this point in the night, the ball was building up to its "crazy night" fame. The line for the professional make-up stand at the venue continued to grow. Meanwhile, a musician in a black top hat took to the stage to set the rhythm for the now-dancing ghouls, witches, and scar-covered partygoers.
As I parted ways with my newfound friends, I realised I had yet to learn their names. "I'm happy you asked," he said, digging a wallet out of his pocket and handing me a business card. The front had the couple's contact details and names: Bertel and Carsten. The back had a bat with wings outstretched in front of the initials BC, and just below, their "role" for the night: vampire.
While I am sure The Brussels Times' Editor in Chief will be disappointed I didn't meet a real-life vampire, I did get a business card. Perhaps, that's close enough for my first ball.
