Salah (dancer)
Encyclopedia
Salah Benlemqawanssa is an award-winning competitive hip-hop dancer who specializes in popping
. In 2006 he won France's Incroyable Talent
competition in its first season. The same year he won a 2-on-2 popping battle with teammate Iron Mike at Juste Debout
, a French based international street dance
competition. In 2008 he starred as himself in Beats Per Minute, an independent film about a French popper who discovers he can rewind time with his dance moves. He calls his personal dance style P.A.B.E. which stands for Popping, Animation, Boogaloo, and Effects.
Salah started dancing in 1996 after he saw a French dance crew practicing their moves in front of the mirrors of the Théâtre national de Chaillot
. Salah specializes in hip-hop but he has also studied other forms of dance including African
, salsa
, tap
, contemporary
, and belly dancing.
Although he is best known for popping, he is also skilled in locking
and b-boying
. As a b-boy, he won second place with The Family Crew at Battle of the Year
(BOTY) 1998. In 2009, Salah served as a judge at BOTY's international one-on-one b-boy battle in Germany
. BOTY is a b-boy competition exclusively for b-boy crews; however, to celebrate their 20th anniversary they had a competition for b-boy solo dancers. He was also a judge at Red Bull BC One
2009 in New York City
. As of October 2011, he is a featured dancer in Cirque du Soleil
's production Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour
.
Salah is a member of both Vagabonds and Massive Monkees
b-boy crews. He is also a member of the contemporary dance
company Montalvo-Hervieu.
Popping
Popping is a street dance and one of the original funk styles that came from California during the 1960s-70s. It is based on the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to cause a jerk in the dancer's body, referred to as a pop or a hit...
. In 2006 he won France's Incroyable Talent
Incroyable Talent
La France a un incroyable talent , previously known as Incroyable Talent is a French television programme, based on the Got Talent series. It debuted on M6 on 2 November 2006, created by Alessandra Sublet....
competition in its first season. The same year he won a 2-on-2 popping battle with teammate Iron Mike at Juste Debout
Juste Debout
Juste Debout is an international and annual dance competition founded in 2002 by Bruce Ykanji in France which focuses on street dance styles. The four main categories are hip hop new style, house, locking and popping.-History:...
, a French based international street dance
Street dance
Street dance, more formally known as vernacular dance, is an umbrella term used to describe dance styles that evolved outside of dance studios in any available open space such as streets, dance parties, block parties, parks, school yards, raves, and nightclubs, etc...
competition. In 2008 he starred as himself in Beats Per Minute, an independent film about a French popper who discovers he can rewind time with his dance moves. He calls his personal dance style P.A.B.E. which stands for Popping, Animation, Boogaloo, and Effects.
Salah started dancing in 1996 after he saw a French dance crew practicing their moves in front of the mirrors of the Théâtre national de Chaillot
Théâtre national de Chaillot
The Théâtre national de Chaillot is a theatre located in the Palais de Chaillot at 1, place du Trocadero, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. Close by the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadéro Gardens—the Théâtre de Chaillot is among the largest concert halls in Paris. It has long been synonymous with...
. Salah specializes in hip-hop but he has also studied other forms of dance including African
African dance
African dance refers mainly to the dance of Sub-Saharan Africa, and more appropriately African dances because of the many cultural differences in musical and movement styles...
, salsa
Salsa (dance)
Salsa is a syncretic dance form with origins in Cuba as the meeting point of Spanish and African cultures.Salsa is normally a partner dance, although there are recognized solo forms such as solo dancing "suelta" and "Rueda de Casino" where multiple couples exchange partners in a circle...
, tap
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
, contemporary
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
, and belly dancing.
Although he is best known for popping, he is also skilled in locking
Locking (dance)
Locking is a style of funk dance, which is today also associated with hip hop. The name is based on the concept of locking movements, which basically means freezing from a fast movement and "locking" in a certain position, holding that position for a short while and then continuing in the same...
and b-boying
B-boying
B-boying, often called "breakdancing", is a popular style of street dance that was created and developed as part of hip-hop culture among African Americans and Latino youths in New York City. The dance consists of four primary elements: toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes...
. As a b-boy, he won second place with The Family Crew at Battle of the Year
Battle of the Year
Battle of the Year, commonly referred to as BOTY, is an annual international b-boying series that began in 1990. It is a crew competition...
(BOTY) 1998. In 2009, Salah served as a judge at BOTY's international one-on-one b-boy battle in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. BOTY is a b-boy competition exclusively for b-boy crews; however, to celebrate their 20th anniversary they had a competition for b-boy solo dancers. He was also a judge at Red Bull BC One
Red Bull BC One
Red Bull BC One is an annual international b-boy competition organized by the energy drink company Red Bull. It is an individual b-boy competition...
2009 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. As of October 2011, he is a featured dancer in Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
's production Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour
Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour
Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour is the official theatrical production by Cirque du Soleil which uses the music and vision of Michael Jackson along with Cirque du Soleil's signature acrobatic performance style to create a realistic concert experience. The arena show—which is very similar to...
.
Salah is a member of both Vagabonds and Massive Monkees
Massive Monkees
Massive Monkees is a 28 member B-boy group from Seattle, Washington that won the 2004 World B-boy Championships in London and appeared on season 4 of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew.- History :...
b-boy crews. He is also a member of the contemporary dance
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
company Montalvo-Hervieu.
Titles
- UK B-Boy Championships
- 2010:B-boy crew championsHe won the world b-boy crew battle with Vagabonds.
- 2007:1-on-1 Popping champion
- Incroyable TalentIncroyable TalentLa France a un incroyable talent , previously known as Incroyable Talent is a French television programme, based on the Got Talent series. It debuted on M6 on 2 November 2006, created by Alessandra Sublet....
- 2006:Winner
- Juste DeboutJuste DeboutJuste Debout is an international and annual dance competition founded in 2002 by Bruce Ykanji in France which focuses on street dance styles. The four main categories are hip hop new style, house, locking and popping.-History:...
- 2006:2-on-2 Popping championsHe won the Juste Debout popping competition with Iron Mike.
- Urban Momentum
- 2004:1-on-1 Freestyle champion
- The Notorious IBEInternational Breakdance EventThe Notorious IBE was founded in 1998 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Between 1998 and 2006 the event took place in the Nighttown Music Theatre in Rotterdam...
- 2005: Stand Up Dance Battle champion
- 2003: Stand Up Dance Battle champion
- 2002: Seven 2 Smoke champion
Appearances
- Judging
- 2009:BOTY
- 2009:Red Bull BC OneRed Bull BC OneRed Bull BC One is an annual international b-boy competition organized by the energy drink company Red Bull. It is an individual b-boy competition...
(New York) - 2008:UK B-Boy ChampionshipsHe judged the locking and popping competitions only.
- 2008:Warsaw Challenge
- 2006:Circle Sensation
- Film
- 2008:Beats Per Minute
- 2002:Astérix et Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre
- Stage
- 2011:Michael Jackson: The Immortal World TourMichael Jackson: The Immortal World TourMichael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour is the official theatrical production by Cirque du Soleil which uses the music and vision of Michael Jackson along with Cirque du Soleil's signature acrobatic performance style to create a realistic concert experience. The arena show—which is very similar to...
- 2009:Breakin' ConventionBreakin' ConventionBreakin’ Convention is an international hip-hop theatre festival based in London, England that was founded in 2004 and is produced annually by Sadler's Wells Theatre. It has been under the artistic direction of playwright and dancer Jonzi D since its inception. Since May 2008 Breakin’ Convention...
- 2007:Rencontres de la Villette
- 2007:Breakin' Convention
- 2007:Red Bull BC One (South Africa)
- 2001:France Moves
- 2011:Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour
- Television
- 2006:Incroyable Talent
- Music Video
- 2006:"RudeboxRudeboxRudebox is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, released on 23 October 2006 in the United Kingdom.-Background:...
" - Robbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams... - 2005:"Feel The Vibe" - AxwellAxwellAxwell is a DJ, remixer, record producer and record label owner from Sweden. He is part of a three person group dubbed the Swedish House Mafia along with Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve Angello...
- 2005:"Doo Wap" - Paul JohnsonPaul Johnson (producer)Paul Johnson is an American house DJ and producer.He first began DJing in Chicago in 1985, and started working as a producer in 1990, doing tracks for Chicago house labels Dance Mania, Relief, Cajual, Nite Life, Undaground Therapy, Defected, DJax Up Beats, Peacefrog, and Moody...
Feat. Chynna
- 2006:"Rudebox
- Teaching
- DanceKool
- Urban Dance Camp
- Broadway Dance Center
External links
- Salah short biography at Pro-Dance.co.uk
- Dance Unity documentary featuring Salah
- BreathTheBeat.com P.A.B.E. five part online tutorial and competition