Contemporary Jazz

A fusion of modern, jazz, and ballet, Slam’s unique style explores a wide range of organic, often angular movements and syncopated rhythms with a base in classical technique. His Contemporary Jazz class emphasizes artistry and musicality, while it challenges the dancer to move in new, unconventional ways. Beginning with a warm-up of modern-influenced, ballet-based exercises that focus on proper execution and alignment, the class evolves to the learning of Slam’s original choreography, broken down and demonstrated for clear understanding.

For intermediate and advanced levels the understanding of the classical vocabulary and previous experience with jazz and/or modern dance are helpful.



Salim Gauwloos
Salim’s career commenced when he began training in his native Belgium, at the Ballet of Flanders in Antwerp. At the age of seventeen, he auditioned in Belgium for a scholarship to the prestigious Steps Dance School in New York City. Out of the two thousand dancers that auditioned, Salim was one of the two dancers who was 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 has also performed in several of her videos, such as Vogue, Hanky Panky and Holiday (live).
He has performed in music videos for very popular artists in the entertainment industry such as George Michael, Aretha Franklin, and Britney Spears. 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, The Workshop.
Salim has acquired a reputation 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 Aida's performance at Broadway “Cares Equity Fights Aids” won "Gypsy of the Year 2003".

He presented two world premieres set on Orlando Ballet under the Artistic Direction of Fernando Bujones, which received rave reviews. The contemporary solo titled “Coming of Age” that Salim created for Joseph Gorak (ABT II 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 NY City Center.

He 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 popular “I Breathe You In” dedicated to Fernando and Maria Bujones, was performed at the Bravo Bujones Gala, a tribute to Fernando Bujones‘ Legacy, under the artistic direction of Bruce Marks.
The contemporary solo titled “Coming of Age” that Mr. Gauwloos created for Joseph Gorak (ABT II and all around winner of the Youth America Grand Prix 2006) was performed at the Gala “Stars of Today meet the Stars of Tomorrow”, held at City Center.

Salim has been invited as a master teacher to Ballet de Monterrey, in Mexico, as well as Amsterdam Dance Center in Holland, Arena21 in Zurich and ImPulsTanz in Vienna.

In 2007 he created a piece in Buenos Aires titled “Between Hope and Fear” which was presented as part of Argentina‘s Mozarteum Program 2007, and has set two works on the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company titled “11:11” and ”Elevated”.
In 2008, he won the choreography award at the YAPG 2008 in South Carolina, and presented a new work titled “The Room” at the Wadsworth Atheneum, in Hartford CT. He choreographed the Wella Trend Vision 2009 and 2010 Campaigns shot by world-renowned photographer Alexi Lubomirski, as well as the Sebastian Trilliant Campaign featuring Charlotte Ronson, shot by Robert Lobetta.
Most recently he did a Residency at Bucknell University and is currently on Faculty at Broardway Dance Center in New York City.