Slam

Contemporary

Biography:

SALIM GAUWLOOS "SLAM"

Salim’s career started in his native Belgium, at the Koninklijke Balletschool - S.I.B. in Antwerp. At the age of seventeen, He auditioned in Belgium for a scholarship to a prestigious Dance School in New York City. Out of the 2,000 dancers that auditioned, he was one of the two dancers who were awarded the scholarship.

In 1990 he began his association with Madonna. He is most famous for his performances in The Blond Ambition Tour, the documentary film, Truth or Dare, and he is also the Face of her infamous Vogue video. In addition, he has worked with artists like George Michael, Aretha Franklin, Toni Braxton, Taylor Dane and Britney Spears, to name a few. He has worked with Mia Michaels' company R.A.W and with Margo Sappington's Company, The Daring Project, where he performed with Valentina Kozlova. He performed in New York City Opera's productions of Salome, Daphne, and Candide. His Broadway credits include Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida on Broadway, and Mambo Kings, The Workshop.

Salim has acquired a reputation as an exceptionally gifted choreographer. His work choreographing the number for the Aida cast's performance at BCEFA won Gypsy of the Year in 2003. He also presented two world premieres set on Orlando Ballet under the Artistic Direction of Fernando Bujones, which received rave reviews. His work I Breathe You In was performed at Orlando Ballet’s production A World of Dance under the artistic direction of Bruce Marks. The contemporary solo titled Coming of Age that Salim created for Joseph Gorak (ABT soloist) was performed at the Gala Stars of Today meet the Stars of Tomorrow, held at City Center.

Salim has taught workshops throughout the world, for Ballet de Monterrey in Mexico, IMPULSTANZ in Vienna, Amsterdam Dance Center in Holland, Concepts in Motion in Bermuda, and Arena 21 in Zurich Switzerland. He was also invited to do residencies at Bucknell University in 2008, 2013, and 2014. Salim created works in Buenos Aires titled Between Hope and Fear and 10-10- 71 which where part of Argentina’s Mozarteum Program ’07 and 2010. Salim won the choreography award at the YAPG 2008 in South Carolina.

His Fashion credits include choreographing a Revlon commercial with supermodels, Cindy Crawford, Helena Christensen, and Claudia Schiffer, shot by Bruce Webber, a Gianni Versace Campaign shot by Herb Ritts, a Philip Morris Campaign shot by David Lachapelle, featuring Slam & Rochelle Aytes, the Wella Trend Vision Campaign shot by Alexi Lubomirski, and most recently he choreographed three advertising campaigns and video commercials for Longchamp, featuring supermodels Coco Rocha and Alexa Chung, and a Cover and editorial spread with Anne Hathaway shot by Alexei Hay for Glamour Magazine.

Salim was also invited to make a guest appearance in “The Face” featuring supermodels Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kurkova, and Coco Rocha, hosted by Nigel Barker. Salim was also featured alongside Chita Rivera, and Paloma Herrera in an article for New You Magazine.

In February 2016 the Documentary directed by Ester Gould & Reijer Zwaan titled "Strike a Pose" premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, then at Tribeca Film Festival putting Salim and the rest of Madonna's Truth or Dare dancers Jose Gutierez, Luis Camacho, Oliver Crumes, Carlton Wilborn, Kevin Stea and Sue Trupin (in loving memory or her son Gabriel Trupin) all back in the spotlight currently. The film received rave reviews by The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Die Welt am Sontag, De Morgen, de Volkskrant, People Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Perez Hilton, The New York Post, The Village Voice, and Poz Magazine. Salim will again attend ImpusTanz 2017 International Dance Festival this summer.

Class Description: