Harold van Buuren is a South African dancer, choreographer and dance instructor best known as a competitor on two seasons of the dance reality television competition Strictly Come Dancing.
In the first season he partnered Michelle Garforth. The couple came second to Zuraida Jardine and her partner Michael Wentink.
In Season 2 he partnered actress Grethe Fox - they were the third couple eliminated.
van Buuren is fully trained as a classical dancer and a Modern Jazz dancer, and represented Switzerland at the 'Festivale Internationale de Danse de Bastia' in Corsica. The Cream of Europe's classical companies were present and Switzerland walked away victorious.
He was employed as Lead Dancer at the world famous theatre, 'Le Paradis Latin', in Paris, France.
Harold has been Lead Dancer, Artistic Director and Choreographer of this prestigious theatre for 11 years.
In so doing, he has successfully choreographed numerous shows for the venue.
He has done numerous shows with international stars such as Ricky Martin, Boyz II Men, Joe Cocker, Gloria Gaynor, Harry Connick Jr., East 17, Kylie Minogue and many more.
He has directed and choreographed shows in Spain, Las Palmas, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, Korea, Japan, always returning by popular demand to these venues.
Locally, he was senior choreographer of 'Big Band Blast', which won a Naledi Award for Best Production.
Harold is also a Ballroom and Latin American Champion and Adjudicator, with numerous titles to his name.
He is the only South African coach to boast a three-time World Exhibition Dance Champion Couple, namely Victor Da Silva and Hanna Kaarttunnen.
Harold is one of the judges of the South African version of the reality dance competition So You Think You Can Dance, which aired on SABC1 in 2008.
He was one of the judges of the reality dance competition Superstars of Dance, representing South Africa, in 2009.
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