Extremos
Frequently asked questions
The ones we get most, from people who have never danced to people who have been coming for years. Something else? Mail info@extremos.nl or ask your teacher.
Where can I learn salsa in Amsterdam?
Extremos teaches salsa and bachata in Amsterdam five evenings a week, at four locations: De Kroon on Rembrandtplein, VROG on Mr. Visserplein, Orchid House on Linnaeusstraat and Mr. de Wit on Baarsjesweg. Beginners classes run at De Kroon, Orchid House and Mr. de Wit; VROG is Intermediate and Advanced only. The full week is on the class schedule.
Do I need a dance partner to join a salsa class?
No. You sign up on your own, and most people do. You are paired up in the first two minutes and partners rotate every few minutes after that, so nobody is stuck with anybody. If you would rather bring someone and stay together the whole class, that is fine too.
Do I need any dance experience to start?
No. Beginners 1 assumes nothing at all: not rhythm, not coordination, not a single step. That is the entire point of it. Roughly half the room has never danced anything before.
What language are the classes taught in?
English. Every class, from Beginners 1 to Advanced, is taught in English, so you do not need to speak any Dutch to join.
Can I take a private salsa or bachata lesson?
Yes. A private lesson lasts an hour and costs 80 euro for one person or 100 euro for a couple. You pay in cash to the teacher at the lesson. To book one, mail info@extremos.nl with the dance, your level and a few days and times that suit you.
Am I too old to start salsa?
No. The room is a wide mix of ages and it changes every week. People start at twenty and people start at sixty, and nobody stands out for being older or younger than the rest. Salsa is danced at your own pace; you are not being timed.
Can I try a salsa class before buying a course?
Yes. Try-outs cost five euro for Beginners and ten euro from Improvers level onwards, and last sixty minutes. It is not a demo or a taster: it is one ordinary class, with the same teachers and the same room as any other week. A try-out week runs before every new course round, so roughly every seven weeks. Afterwards you owe nobody anything.
How long does it take to learn to dance salsa?
After six weeks of Beginners 1 you can dance the basic step, turn, and lead or follow a handful of patterns. That is enough to walk onto a social floor, and every beginners course closes with a Rookie Social so you actually do. Most people reach Intermediate about a year in. Advanced takes several years, and at Extremos you move up when a teacher decides you can dance it, not when the calendar says so.
What is the difference between a course and a drop-in class?
Beginners and Improvers run as six-week courses: a fixed group, a fixed night, the same teachers, and you are enrolled for all six classes at once. From Intermediate on the classes are drop-in: you book whichever nights suit you, with a membership or a punch card. 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.
What is the difference between salsa and bachata?
Salsa has six steps with a pause in them, is faster, and more of it happens across the floor: turns, patterns, changes of direction. Bachata has four steps with a tap on the fourth, is slower and closer, and more of the movement happens through the body than the feet. The music is Dominican, but the style we teach, moderna and sensual, comes from Spain. The levels run separately, so you can be Improvers in one and Beginners in the other, and plenty of people do both.
Where can I go dancing in Amsterdam after class?
Extremos runs two socials a week, both free. Latin Nights is every Wednesday at De Kroon on Rembrandtplein, and Latin @ Orchid House is every Sunday from 16:00 to 21:00, inside at Orchid House in Oost. Both are open to anyone, including people who started six weeks ago. See socials and events.
Upgrading or downgrading your membership
Want to upgrade? Great! Members can upgrade their membership at any time during the contract period. In the event of an upgrade, a new subscription will be created, and the membership benefits associated with the upgraded level will take effect immediately. The upgraded subscription will have its distinct end date.
Want to downgrade? Within the contract period, it is not possible to downgrade your membership. Downgrading is permitted at the expiration of the current contract period. At the end of the contract period, members may choose to renew their subscription at the current level or explore other membership options.
How to cancel your membership
Cancellation is only possible after completion of the initial contract period. So for example: if you have a 12-month membership, it cannot be canceled after only 4 months. It must finish the full contract period. After the initial contract period, you can cancel anytime. The cancellation of a subscription is effective 30 days after receipt of the request, this means we work with a 1 month notice.
So, to cancel your membership, send an email to info@extremos.nl, one month in advance in order for it to be processed!
Can a membership be paused?
Yes, you can pause your membership! Send us an email at least 1 week before the start of the month in which the pause period is intended to start.
During the contract period, subscribers can pause:
3-month contract: Maximum 7 days.
6-month contract: Maximum 14 days
12-month contract: Maximum 30 days.
After the initial contract, all memberships can be paused for a maximum of 3 months.
But keep in mind, when a membership is paused, the end date will be extended by the duration of the paused period! Cancelation after the pause period still requires a one-month notice in which the membership is active.
How do I get a medal
To receive a medal for a higher level, it’s essential that you demonstrate the technique and control our instructors require.
If you’d like to move up, you can ask your teachers for advice during the Try-Out week or in your regular weekly classes. Make sure to do this at the beginning of the lesson, so the instructors know they’ll need to evaluate you.
When you’re new to the school, you’ll get a one-week grace period during which you can join classes without having the proper medal. Make sure to ask the teachers to give you the correct medal within that week.
The teachers are fully responsible for awarding medals and will let you know when you’re ready to move on to the next level.
Can credits be used for either Salsa or Bachata
Credits can be used for every class according to your level. So you can join salsa and bachata classes at any of our four Amsterdam locations. This also applies to the Footwork, Body Movement, and Ladies’ Styling lessons.
How much does it cost
Prices and options
We offer several ways to join our classes, whether you prefer to commit to a full course or enjoy flexibility through a membership or punch card.
Beginners 1
Start your journey with our 6-week Beginners 1 course for €119
You’ll learn all the essentials step by step in a fun, structured way.
See all upcoming beginners courses
Improvers 1 and 2
Once you’ve mastered the basics, move on to Improvers 1 or 2 to keep building your skills.
You can join these levels as a course (just like Beginners) or with a membership or punch card if you prefer more flexibility.
Memberships
Dance as often as you like with one of our memberships!
Whether it’s once a week or unlimited dancing, we’ve got you covered, with options for 3, 6, or 12 months.
Prices start from €55 per month
What to wear
The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and confident!
Wear something you can move freely in (it’s a dance class, after all) and that makes you feel good.
A quick reminder: personal hygiene matters, fresh clothes and a little care go a long way when dancing closely with others.
From Improvers level and up, we recommend followers wear dance shoes. They make turning and spinning much easier (and safer!).
When Can You Start?
Who likes to wait? We don’t! That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to start your Salsa & Bachata journey right away, no matter your level.
Beginners and Improvers
It’s best to start at the beginning of a new course, so you can follow the full program from the start.
If you don’t want to wait, join one of our Beginner Bootcamps first, in just one day, you’ll learn all the basics you need to jump straight into a running course.
Intermediate and Advanced
These are drop-in classes, so you can start any time. Just check our schedule, pick a class that fits your level, and sign up.
Try-outs
Not sure where to begin? Our Tryout Weeks are perfect for new students. Join a class for €5 at Beginners level, or €10 from Improvers onwards, meet our team, and get personalized advice on which level suits you best.
Something not answered here? Mail info@extremos.nl or ask your teacher.