When did you start at SAS?
I joined SAS as a sophomore in 1993. I was in a local school in Singapore before that, but I wanted to attend college in the US so my family decided SAS would be a better fit. I fell in love with the school and with the teachers SAS teachers were demanding and expected a lot, but they treated us with respect and valued us as individuals. They cared and still do! In school, I was a math nerd with a 4.0 GPA who loved to dance. I was always either in the accounting room with Mrs. Clark or with Mrs. Silverman dancing. They were my two favorite teachers. They let me explore my passions, but they kept me in line as well, so I knew I was on the right track. They taught me to be disciplined and to work hard. Mrs. Silverman was my mentor. She was a perfectionist and demanding but very supportive. I had been interested in dance since I was a little girl, but it was because of her that that I developed my passion and love for dance.
Where did you go to college, and what have you done since you graduated?
I was accepted to MIT but went to University of Kansas with my boyfriend. We had known each other since we were kids and had been dating since I was a sophomore. He came to my performances and was my date for every SAS dance/prom. He is Japanese but has lived in Indonesia, Singapore, and the US. I transferred to and graduated from University of Colorado, Boulder, majoring in finance and marketing. Kenji and I married and moved to Tokyo after graduation. I worked in investment banking with Credit Suisse and also started my ballroom career there. At first it was a social activity to relieve stress, but I soon discovered I could compete. I moved back to Singapore to train under a professional coach, and for the next 15 years I competed in international competitions representing Spain and Singapore. In 2008 I took time off to have my daughter Reika, who I am delighted is now at SAS. I went back to dancing, but decided not to compete professionally and do shows instead. In 2005 I set up and am still running the PT Pasos de Baile Events Dance Company in Jakarta, which is targeted at ballroom and Latin dance and employs high quality teachers to coach and mentor talented, aspiring local dancers at low or zero cost. In 2010 we produced and ran the Indonesian version of the BBC TV program “Dancing with the Stars.” The challenging but exciting show ran for two years through my company. In addition to producing and managing the show, we provided full dance coaching/training and choreography, as well as costume and set designs.
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What brought you and your family back to Singapore and to SAS?
My family is here, so it made sense to move back. I work in my dad's conglomerate family business, Salim Group, serving as director in five of its companies. Kenji is the executive director at Salim Group's automobile company, Indomobil. He is also working with a Japanese firm to set up a company that designs remote control race cars.
What excites you about the education at SAS?
I flourished when I was a student at SAS. SAS gives students freedom to explore individual directions with discipline and structure. Kenji and I put Reika on the waiting list when she was one year old to make sure she got a spot. I really wanted to start her education here, not only because of the school’s excellent reputation but also because I wanted her to have the same experience I did. SAS has the highest quality teachers and facilities. It provides students with exposure to so many things – including different cultures. I want my daughter to find herself here with very good guidance.
Tell us what you do and why you volunteer at SAS?
Once my daughter started at SAS it was a no-brainer to come back and volunteer with Mrs. Silverman. Dance was and still is my go-to place. I help Mrs. Silverman do workshops for the high school dance club; I do County Fair and Early Childhood Center dance performances;
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and I help her get kids set up for shows. She has always been a huge supporter, keeping in touch and encouraging me when I was performing.
Tell us why the SAS Foundation Board interests you?
Basically, I can’t bake, so that was not my thing. All kidding aside, I really wanted to get involved. My major and professional background made me think that the SAS Foundation Board was the right the place to volunteer. I want to share my story and get other people involved and supporting the school and its programs. I love SAS. I want to be a walking endorsement.
What would you say to parents and alumni about why they should consider supporting SAS?
Clockwise: Astrid Salim working with SAS dancers; with mentor and colleague Paula Silverman; with husband Kenji and daughter Reika.
As a parent, I think it is about our children’s future. We have to support SAS. Our 60th SAS Anniversary theme is “a tradition of innovation,” and that is what it is all about – innovation. Continually working to be the best. I support Dr. Kimball’s programs and the work he is doing for the school. You can already see many amazing improvements and incredible programs being launched that continue to keep us cutting edge as a school. But we need resources to put many of these programs in place, and philanthropic support from the community is essential to make that happen. As an alum I think it’s also about the same thing. When we were students here, the Singapore community, SAS parents and alumni supported us and the future
of the school. Many people have donated time and financial support to meet the needs of the time, which have included moves to different campuses and an ever expanding student body. It is why we have the campus and facilities that we do today. Our job is to pay it forward for the students today and in the future to ensure that SAS remains the best school in the world.
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