Extremos
Salsa and bachata classes in Amsterdam
Extremos is a salsa and bachata dance school in Amsterdam. It was founded in 2000 and teaches 55 classes a week across four locations in the city, five evenings a week, from people who have never danced a step to dancers who have been at it for years.
This page is the long answer to "which class should I take". It lists every level we teach, what actually happens in it, where in Amsterdam it runs, and what you need to be able to do before you join. If you have never danced, you can stop reading after the next two sections and go straight to the beginners courses.
Do you need a partner or experience?
No, to both. You sign up on your own, and most people do. Every class is taught in English, so you do not need to speak Dutch either. Partners rotate every few minutes in every class we teach, so you dance with the whole room rather than one person. Beginners 1 assumes nothing: not rhythm, not coordination, not a single step.
You also do not have to commit before you know whether you like it. A try-out class is one ordinary sixty-minute class, not a demo. It costs five euro at Beginners level and ten euro from Improvers onwards. A try-out week runs before every new course round, roughly every seven weeks.
Salsa or bachata?
They are two different dances and we teach both, at every level, on separate ladders. You can be Improvers in one and Beginners in the other, and plenty of people do both.
Salsa has six steps with a pause in them. It is the faster of the two, and more of it happens across the floor: turns, patterns, changes of direction. We teach cross-body salsa On1, also called LA style: the dance travels along a line and the leader breaks forward on the first beat. We do not currently teach salsa On2, and we do not teach Cuban salsa, so if one of those is specifically what you are after, another school in the city will suit you better.
Bachata has four steps with a tap on the fourth. It comes from the Dominican Republic, is slower and danced closer, and more of the movement happens through the body than the feet. Most people get somewhere with it inside an hour, which is why it is often the easier first dance.
A course or a drop-in class?
Both exist, and which one you get depends on your level rather than your preference.
Beginners and Improvers run as six-week courses: a fixed group, a fixed night, the same teachers for all six weeks, and you enrol for the whole thing at once. A beginners course costs €119. Learning to dance is uncomfortable for the first few weeks and it is much easier among people who are equally lost.
From Intermediate on the classes are drop-in: you book whichever nights suit you, with a monthly membership or a punch card. By then you have the fundamentals and can be dropped into any room at your level.
They are not two ways of booking the same thing: a course is the fixed six-week build-up you start with, and drop-in is the flexible form from Intermediate onwards. Compare the three ways to pay, or see all prices.
How the levels work
Seven levels, in both salsa and bachata: Beginners 1, Beginners 2, Improvers 1, Improvers 2, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2 and Advanced. Alongside them run technique classes that are not part of the ladder.
You move up when a teacher decides you can dance the level, not when the calendar says so or when you have attended a certain number of classes. From Intermediate 1 upwards you need a medal from a teacher before you can book a class at that level, and a try-out is the normal way to get one. It is slower than counting classes, and it is the reason our Intermediate room actually dances at Intermediate level.
Most people reach Intermediate about a year in. Advanced takes several years.
The salsa classes
Salsa Beginners 1
Salsa Beginners 1 is the perfect starting point for complete beginners. No experience is needed, and no partner is required.
During this course, you'll learn the fundamental Salsa steps, timing, leading and following techniques, and simple partnerwork combinations in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
👤 Experience Required: No
By the end of the course, you'll have a solid foundation and be ready to continue to Salsa Beginners 2.
Salsa Beginners 2
Continue building your Salsa skills
Salsa Beginners 2 is designed for students who have completed Salsa Beginners 1 or already know the fundamentals of Salsa.
In this course, you'll expand your repertoire with new turns, footwork, partnerwork combinations, and technique, while becoming more confident on the dance floor.
👤 Experience Required: Salsa Beginners 1 or equivalent experience
After completing this course, you'll be ready to progress to Salsa Improvers 1.
Salsa Improvers 1
Build confidence, improve your technique, and expand your repertoire.
Salsa Improvers 1 is the natural next step after Beginners 2. In this 6-week course, you'll learn how to combine everything you've learned so far into more fluid and exciting partnerwork combinations.
A major focus of this level is the Travelling Right Turn (Outside Turn) and learning how to integrate it with techniques and figures from previous levels, including:
✅ Right Turn
✅ Left Turn
✅ Cross Body Lead
✅ Under the Bridge
✅ Improved leading and following techniques
✅ Better understanding of frame and partner connection
At this level, technique becomes increasingly important. A good frame will help you communicate more clearly with your partner and make dancing more comfortable and enjoyable for both leaders and followers.
👤 Experience Required: Beginners 1 and Beginners 2, or equivalent experience
👠 Dance shoes are highly recommended for followers from Improvers 1 onwards. They make turning easier, improve balance, and help reduce strain on the knees and ankles.
After completing this course, you'll be ready to continue to Salsa Improvers 2.
Salsa Improvers 2
Take your Salsa to the next level with more advanced turns, combinations, and technique.
Salsa Improvers 2 is designed for students who have completed Salsa Improvers 1 or have equivalent experience. In this 6-week course, you'll continue building on everything you've learned so far while adding an important new technique: the Traveling Left Turn (Inside Turn).
Throughout the course, you'll learn how to combine this new element with techniques and figures from previous levels, including:
✅ Traveling Right Turn (Outside Turn)
✅ Traveling Left Turn (Inside Turn)
✅ Right Turn
✅ Left Turn
✅ Cross Body Lead
✅ Under the Bridge
✅ Improved leading and following techniques
✅ Better timing, frame, and partner connection
At this level, the focus shifts increasingly towards refinement and preparation for the Intermediate levels.
👤 Experience Required: Salsa Improvers 1 or equivalent experience
👠 Dance shoes are highly recommended for followers.
After completing this course, you'll be ready to move on to Salsa Intermediate 1.
Salsa Intermediate 1
Salsa Intermediate 1 is intended for dancers who have successfully completed Beginners 1, Beginners 2, Improvers 1, and Improvers 2, or who have equivalent experience.
Before joining this level, you should feel comfortable with all the fundamentals, including:
✅ Right Turn (Spot Turn)
✅ Left Turn (Spot Turn)
✅ Inside Turn (Traveling Left Turn)
✅ Outside Turn (Traveling Right Turn)
✅ Cross Body Lead
✅ Good partner connection and frame
🏅 Intermediate classes require an Intermediate 1 Medal. New students are welcome to join for up to 14 days without a medal. During this period, please ask your teacher to assess your level and, if appropriate, award your medal.
Unlike our Beginners and Improvers levels, Intermediate classes are not progressive courses. You can join at any time, as each class covers different combinations.
Most students spend approximately 30 classes at the Intermediate 1 level before progressing to Intermediate 2.
Salsa Intermediate 2
Salsa Intermediate 2 is intended for dancers who have earned their Intermediate 2 Medal or have equivalent experience.
Compared to Intermediate 1, the biggest difference is not the number of patterns you know, but the quality of how you execute them.
At Intermediate 2, the focus shifts from what you dance to how you dance it. You'll continue refining your technique, timing, musicality, lead & follow, partner connection, and overall quality of movement.
Intermediate 2 also introduces the foundations of spinning technique for followers.
🏅 Intermediate 2 classes require an Intermediate 2 Medal. New students are welcome to join for up to 14 days without a medal.
There is no fixed number of classes required before progressing to Advanced. Your teachers will determine when you're ready.
Salsa Advanced
Salsa Advanced consists of drop-in classes, not a progressive course. You can join any class, provided you have the required experience and technique.
This is our highest regular level. You should feel completely comfortable with all material from Intermediate 1 and 2, including spot turns, travelling turns (inside & outside turns), multiple spins, styling, timing, and partner connection.
At this level, the focus is no longer on learning lots of new patterns. Instead, you'll refine your technique, musicality, body movement, lead & follow, speed, precision, and creativity.
An Advanced Medal is required to join this level. New students may participate without a medal for up to 14 days.
Salsa Body Movement
Body Movement is one of the most important skills for becoming a better Salsa dancer. It improves your balance, coordination, musicality, styling, and overall quality of movement.
This class is suitable for dancers from Intermediate level and above, but motivated Improvers are also welcome.
Although the class is primarily taught for Cross Body Salsa On1 dancers, it is highly recommended for On2 dancers, Cuban Salsa dancers, and even Bachata dancers.
The classes are taught by Eloy Rojas, who is internationally recognized for his Body Movement training. Eloy is invited to teach these classes at Salsa festivals and events all over the world.
Whether you're a leader or a follower, this class will improve every aspect of your dancing.
The bachata classes
Bachata Beginners 1
Ready to start dancing Bachata?
Bachata Beginners 1 is the ideal introduction to one of the world's most popular social dances. No experience is needed, and no partner is required.
You'll learn the basic Bachata steps, timing, partner connection, and simple combinations in a supportive and enjoyable environment.
👤 Experience Required: No
After this course, you'll have the skills and confidence to continue to Bachata Beginners 2.
Bachata Beginners 2
Take your Bachata to the next level
Bachata Beginners 2 is intended for students who have completed Bachata Beginners 1 or already have a good understanding of the basic Bachata steps and timing.
You'll learn new combinations, turns, partnerwork techniques, and develop a smoother connection with your dance partners.
👤 Experience Required: Bachata Beginners 1 or equivalent experience
After completing this course, you'll be ready to move on to Bachata Improvers 1.
Bachata Improvers 1
👤 Experience Required: Bachata Beginners 2 or equivalent experience
👠 Dance shoes are highly recommended for followers. They make turning easier, improve balance, and help reduce strain on the knees and ankles.
After completing this course, you'll be ready to move on to Bachata Improvers 2.
Bachata Improvers 2
👤 Experience Required: Bachata Improvers 1 or equivalent experience
👠 Dance shoes are highly recommended for followers. They make turning easier, improve balance, and help reduce strain on the knees and ankles.
After completing this course, you'll be ready to move on to Bachata Intermediate 1.
Bachata Intermediate 1
Bachata Intermediate 1 consists of drop-in classes, not a progressive course. This means you can join any class, as long as you already have the required foundation.
You should have completed our Beginners and Improvers program and feel comfortable with the techniques, timing, partner connection, and turns covered in those levels.
On average, students attend around 30 Intermediate 1 classes before they are ready to move on to Intermediate 2.
A Bachata Intermediate 1 Medal is required to join this level. New students may participate without a medal for up to 14 days.
Bachata Intermediate 2
Bachata Intermediate 2 also consists of drop-in classes rather than a progressive course. You can join any class, provided you have the required level and technique.
At this level, the focus shifts from simply learning new patterns to improving the quality of your dancing. You'll work on cleaner technique, smoother partner connection, better timing, musicality, and overall execution.
The more often you dance, not only in class but also during socials, the faster you'll improve.
A Bachata Intermediate 2 Medal is required to join this level. New students may participate without a medal for up to 14 days.
Bachata Advanced
Bachata Advanced consists of drop-in classes, not a progressive course. You can join any class, provided you have the required experience and technique.
This is our highest regular level. You should feel completely comfortable with all material from Intermediate 1 and 2, including partner connection, timing, turns, body movement, musicality, and the techniques covered in those levels.
At this level, the focus is on refining your dancing rather than simply learning more patterns.
A Bachata Advanced Medal is required to join this level. New students may participate without a medal for up to 14 days.
Bachata Boost Your Technique
Ready to take your Bachata to the next level? This class is recommended for dancers at least at the Improvers 2 level.
Taught by Diego & Merel, this is one of our most popular classes. Instead of learning more patterns, you'll focus on perfecting your technique: posture, frame, balance, timing, connection, body movement, and overall movement quality.
Small technical improvements make a huge difference on the social dance floor. This class combines perfectly with your regular partnerwork lessons.
Bachata Ladies Styling
Bachata Ladies Styling is about how your dancing looks and feels, rather than about learning more patterns.
The class works on three things: footwork, arm styling, and body movement. Together they give you cleaner lines, more control, and a style that is your own.
It combines well with your regular partnerwork classes. The technique you build here shows up in everything else you dance, and it is what makes the difference on a social dance floor.
Where in Amsterdam each class runs
Four rooms, in the centre, the east and the west of the city. Which nights run where is fixed, so you can pick the room that fits your week rather than the other way round. Full details and route notes are on the locations page.
De Kroon
Rembrandtplein 17-I, 1017 CT Amsterdam. Classes on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Bachata and Salsa are taught here, at Beginners 1, Beginners 2, Improvers 1, Improvers 2, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Advanced, Boost Your Technique and Ladies Styling. Beginners classes: yes, you can start here from zero.
VROG
Mr. Visserplein 7, 1011 RD Amsterdam. Classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Salsa are taught here, at Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Advanced, Body Movement and Musicality. Beginners classes: no. If you are starting out, pick one of the other rooms.
Orchid House
Linnaeusstraat 2C, 1092 CK Amsterdam. Classes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bachata and Salsa are taught here, at Beginners 1, Beginners 2, Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2. Beginners classes: yes, you can start here from zero.
Mr. de Wit
Baarsjesweg 202, 1057 HS Amsterdam. Classes on Friday. Salsa are taught here, at Beginners 1, Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2. Beginners classes: yes, you can start here from zero.
The whole week, filterable by style, level, day, location and teacher, is on the class schedule.
What happens in your first class
You arrive fifteen minutes early, which is enough time to find the door and hang up your coat. You are paired with someone in the first two minutes. The teachers break the step down, you try it, the music goes on, and partners rotate every few minutes so you dance with most of the room.
Nobody stands at the side watching, and that includes you. There is a lot of laughing in that hour. You wear something you can move in and shoes that turn on a smooth floor; leave the heels at home the first time.
Where to practise what you learn
Classes are practice for the dance floor, not the other way round. Extremos runs two free socials a week: Latin Nights every Wednesday and Sunday at De Kroon on Rembrandtplein, and Latin @ Strand van Oost every Sunday afternoon from 15:00 on the roof terrace above Orchid House.
Every beginners course closes with a Rookie Social, a social night for people who just started, so your first time on a social floor is with the people you learned with. See socials and events.
Where to start
If you have never danced: a try-out class for five euro, or straight into the six-week Beginners 1 course. Both start you in the same room.
If you danced somewhere else: levels do not translate between schools, so come to a try-out week and dance one. A teacher tells you afterwards which of our levels you belong in.
Still deciding? The frequently asked questions cover the rest.
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