SALIM GAUWLOOS "SLAM"

Salim’s career started when he began training 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 iconic video. In addition, he has performed artists like George Michael, Aretha Franklin, Toni Braxton, Taylor Dane and Britney Spears, to name a few. He has danced for 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, and Mambo Kings.

Salim has acquired a reputation as not only an extraordinary dancer, but also as an exceptionally gifted choreographer. He was selected to showcase his choreography in the prestigious Ballet Builders 2002, 2004, and 2006. His work choreographing the number for the Aida cast's performance at Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids 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 synergy of forms is so fresh”—“This dance is as cerebral as it is visceral”—by Diane Hubbard Burns for the Orlando Sentinel. 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 and winner of the Youth America Grand Prix 2006 in New York City) 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,  Arena 21 in Zurich Switzerland and in Argentina. 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. His piece 10-10-71 was also performed in a tribute to Argentina’s famous Dancer called Jose Neglia, where his son Sergio Neglia, also performed his father’s famous roles, along starts such as Cecilia Figaredo. He has also set a work on the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company titled “11:11”. Slam 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 ads shot by Alexi Lubomirski, as well as the Sebastian Trilliant ads featuring Charlotte Ronson, and most recently he choreographed two advertising campaigns and video commercials for Longchamp, featuring supermodel Coco Rocha, and a Cover and editorial spread with Anne Hathaway as a face of One Billion Rising, the global movement to end violence against women shot by Alexei Hay for Glamour Magazine.

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

In April 2015 Salim worked on the new Longchamp campaign, featuring Alexa Chung, shot by Max Vadukul and video directed by Paul Barulis.  Most recently Salim was the on set choreographer for a W Magazine fashion layout shot by Emma Summerton "Let's Get Physical"

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 is still on faculty at Broadway Dance Center in New York City, and again attended ImpusTanz 2019 International Dance Festival, July/August where he created his latest work “Twin Souls” Danced by Moe Suzuki and Salim Gauwloos.