Famous Dutch Salsa School Extremos Exits Cantinero: enter Chicano’s!

AMSTERDAM – Last month (February) the popular Salsa Bar ‘Cantinero’ closed. The reason of the ‘temporary closure’ as stated in an official letter issued by the management of the restaurant was: damage to the building caused by water overflow. In the following days we got news of Cantinero Rotterdam – which opened its doors last year – also experiencing  the same ‘water related problems’. Rumors of a bankruptcy soon started to go around in the Dutch salsa scene.

Last Thursday (March 25th ) I went to the restaurant ‘Chicano’s’ (Leidse Square, Amsterdam) after receiving an e-mail announcing the new venue for the salsa parties of Extremos being Chicano’s. At my arrival Jennifer Benavidez – one of the owners and dance teachers of Extremos Dance Company – welcomed me at the door. She looked a little bit worried and commented on some complaints they were getting from the management of the restaurant on their maiden party. Jennifer: “There are already complaints about too much noise and everyone has to bring their coats to the wardrobe in order to prevent fires”.

After the party I interviewed Jennifer and Ivan Poschi (the founder of Extremos). Ivan told me Cantinero Amsterdam opened on January 14, 2002 together with Extremos. He decided to work together with the restaurant and quit his day job to fully focus on the Salsa business. Jennifer confirmed Cantinero closed on February 22nd 2010. Jennifer: “We just got a phone call the same day from the owner [Cantinero] telling us we can’t teach today.” Ivan filled in: “It is true, Cantinero has gone bankrupt. Him starting a new location in Rotterdam has proven to be not a very smart move.”

Jennifer also commented on the tight grip their former business partner had on them. “With our help Cantinero became a constant Salsa Spot. Every day our Dance classes ended at 10.30 p.m. After that everybody could come and dance for free. But the owner had problems with us organizing salsa parties in the Mirror Centre, in Plein 60, and in Havana. We could not even promote the parties of the Amsterdam Salsa Festival which Extremos organizes. He was very strict with us”

After asking them how they solved the problem of allocating all of their 750 to 800 students elsewhere, Jennifer replied: “Cantinero closed so abruptly we had to do our very best to find a new location on such a short notice. Luckily the management of Club Roses (former Club More) and the Beiaard helped us out nicely. Havana closed down after 2 weeks of us being there. They did not even bother to call us!”
Ivan ended the interview by saying: “I see our future becoming better than it ever was! Our students pay only 110 Euros for 10 dance classes, and salsa dancing is really ideal for making contacts.”

But the last salsa song of the evening ‘Yo no se Mañana’ (Luis Enrique) meaning ‘I don’t know about Tomorrow’ is a good way to describe the feeling Extremos now has towards their new Salsa club.

  
Extremos welcomes everyone to come and dance Salsa in Chicano’s every week from Thursay to Sunday, free of charge.