Public Moves: Contemporary Jazz – Dancing Meditation
with Salim Gauwloos

Sun 20.07., 17.00h l MQ Forecourt l Free entry

Salim’s unique style is a fusion of Ballet, Modern and Jazz, with which he explores a wide range of organic, but often also angular movements. Salim takes his participants on a journey – people have called it a “dancing meditation”. After the contemplative warm-up the class evolves to the learning of Salim’s original choreography.

Public Moves dance classes take place outdoors every day – international and local instructors share their knowledge of everything from jazz and Bollywood dance to waacking in free outdoor classes. No previous experience is necessary, and all ages and levels are welcome!

Registration begins one day before the course starts at 11:00 a.m. via the calendar or by telephone on +43.1.523 55 58-19. If a class is ‘fully booked’, there is still the possibility of securing a remaining place on site. It's worth dropping by!

Biography

Salim’s career began in his native country, Belgium, at the Koninklijke Balletschool – S.I.B. in Antwerp. At the age of seventeen, he auditioned in Belgium for a scholarship to Steps on Broadway in New York City – and won it.

In 1990, he began his collaboration with Madonna. He is renowned for his performances in The Blond Ambition Tour, her film Truth or Dare, and her iconic Vogue video. He has worked with artists such as George Michael, Aretha Franklin, Toni Braxton, Taylor Dayne, and Britney Spears, to name a few. He danced with Mia Michaels' company R.A.W. and with Margo Sappington's company, where he performed alongside Valentina Kozlova. He also appeared in New York City Opera productions of Salome, Daphne, and Candide. His Broadway credits include Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida and The Mambo Kings.

Salim earned a reputation as an exceptionally gifted choreographer and teacher. His choreography 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 with Orlando Ballet under the artistic direction of Fernando Bujones. His piece I Breathe You In was performed in A World of Dance, a production by Orlando Ballet under the artistic direction of Bruce Marks.

Salim has taught workshops around the world, including Mexico, Austria, the Netherlands, Bermuda, Switzerland, and Argentina. He was also invited for residencies at Bucknell University in 2008, 2013, and 2014. He created Ballets in Buenos Aires that were part of Argentina’s Mozarteum programme in 2007 and 2010. In 2008, he won the choreography award at YAGP in South Carolina.

His fashion credits include choreographing a Revlon commercial featuring Cindy Crawford, Helena Christensen, and Claudia Schiffer, shot by Bruce Weber; a Gianni Versace campaign shot by Herb Ritts; and a Philip Morris campaign shot by David LaChapelle. He choreographed three advertising campaigns and video commercials for Longchamp, featuring supermodels Coco Rocha and Alexa Chung, as well as a cover and editorial spread with Anne Hathaway, shot by Alexei Hay for Glamour Magazine. Salim also made a guest appearance in The Face, featuring Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kurkova, and Coco Rocha, hosted by Nigel Barker. He was also featured alongside Chita Rivera and Paloma Herrera in an article for New You Magazine. Salim choreographed on set for a W Magazine layout shot by Emma Summerton.

In 2016, the documentary Strike a Pose premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and later at the Tribeca Film Festival, featuring Salim and the rest of Madonna’s Truth or Dare dancers. The film received rave reviews from The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Die Welt am Sonntag, De Morgen, de Volkskrant, People Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Perez Hilton, The New York Post, and The Village Voice. In January 2024, Salim was invited to the prestigious Steps on Broadway School in New York City to teach a ‘Spotlight Class’, and he has been part of the ImPulsTanz Vienna International Dance Festival in Austria, every summer since 2007 to the present day.

Salim is currently working on his autobiography and is co-hosting The Alphabet Mafia podcast, available on all major platforms – Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and iHeartMedia.

Photo: © Facundo Gabba