Junior José Santos Schmidt (Jr El Artista)
Born in Santiago, Dominican Republic and based in Groningen, the Netherlands, Jr El Artista grew up with Bachata at the heart of every family gathering. Inspired by the music of Anthony Santos, he turned his passion into an international career as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher.
Founder of La Ñapa Dance Academy and organizer of La Tradición Bachata Festival, Junior has shared the essence of Bachata across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. His mission is simple: to bring the authenticity and connection of the Dominican Republic to every dancer.
“Life is way better with Bachata.”