What’s on this week: 9-15 December

Throughout winter, the Brussels Pentagon is lit up with 11 installations. Among others the Porte de Hal will be striped with light, the tunnels will grow colourful nomad flowers, the Midi railway viaduct will become a lightbridge, the Place Madou will be illuminated by 178 LED filled bottles with one message of peace and love, Place Rogier will create a light synergy between the Belfius Tower and the streets below and the Porte de Flandre becomes a luminous waterfall. As well as lighting up the long nights, the aim is that the locations and the works featured will encourage encounters and exchanges between residents and fill these spaces with life.
Bright Brussels Winter, until 5 February, around Brussels

Founded in 1923, Sabena was the third oldest airline of the world. A new exhibition in the Atomium covers the airline from the beginning in the airport at Haren to the abrupt ending in 2001, with its development on four continents including a preeminent position in Africa and its extensive regional helicopter network in Europe. Culled meticulously from private and public collections are a great variety of original objects, several scale airplane models, uniforms, posters, photos, movies and some gadgets that immerse the visitor in the engaging 78 years of history. Special attention is paid to the leading players in this adventure, the more than 10,000 employees who called themselves the Sabéniens.
Atomium, until 10 September 2017

Brussels jazz/rock super-group Dans Dans was formed in 2012 by guitarist Bert Dockx of Flying Horseman, bassist Frederic Jacques of Mark Lanegan’s backing band and drummer Steven Cassiers. At first the trio established a reputation for improvisational interpretations of other people’s songs. They covered everyone from David Bowie to Ornette Coleman to Ennio Morricone. Their fourth and latest album Sand, however, is a different animal. Comprised mostly of original compositions, the disc has earned the band positive reviews across northern Europe. This month finds Dans Dans returning home after touring Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Until 16 December, across Flanders & Brussels

Nine years ago, Flemish author David Van Reybrouck, actor Bruno Vanden Broecke and director Raven Ruëll struck gold with their stage hit Mission. Now the trio reunite for a sequel of sorts. While Mission explored the evangelical excuses for Belgian colonialism in the Congo, Para delves into the conscience of a soldier involved in Belgium’s intervention in Somalia in 1992. The production promises a nuanced depiction of “international peace operations,” which often begin in idealism and end in confusion—or worse. Van Reybrouck spent years researching the historical background and interviewing veterans of the operation.
Until 14 December, KVS, Brussels

Tokyo Heroes is an interactive concert by the Liège Royal Philharmonic boasting well-known manga scores and live illustration by Yuki Shirono. (In Dutch and French)
10 December 10.00, Bozar, Rue Ravenstein 23, Brussels