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I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

See my blog for over 150 dancer articles:
www.UnlikelySalsero.com

As "The Unlikely Salsero", private/group salsa instructor, dancer and lifelong musician, Don specializes in teaching dancers how to hear the time in the music, understand music structure, and relate the music directly to their dancing. Partner dancing is so much more fun when the couple both dance to the music! Dance Salsa "On 1," "On 2" or "On Clave," but be sure you know the music well enough to know that you know!

Don learned to dance as an adult in my 40's and his primary instruction started with Edie the Salsa Freak among many other instructors over the years. Don's literally performed on stage as a drummer thousands of times and coaches others on performance dancing techniques and musicality.

A lifelong student of learning/teaching, he's been teaching privately since around age 18; beginning with drums/music, then computers/software in the 90's, and now salsa, musicality and timing for dancers.

Don is well know as a "master instructor" and "instructors instructor", coaching other instructors in the art and science of teaching, accelerated learning and class management techniques.

Don grew up in Detroit and moved to LA at age 21 to study with some of the world's best studio musicians. He graduated from Percussion Institute of Technology (AKA "PIT") in 1982.

Starting my dance life later than most, he's living proof that if someone like him can learn to dance, you'll be even better.

Check out my blog: http://www.UnlikelySalsero.com

My Interests

I'd like to meet:

Please NO large ADs in the comment section! If you place a large ad, I will remove it. If the ad is too wide I will also delete it, since I hate pages that have to scroll right to left excessively.

I was interviewed in this salsa documentary:

My Blog

"Music For Dancers" Master class this Saturday @ The Granada:

I hope you join us tomorrow for the class at the Granada (see previous article for details).I'm also teaching similar classes at the Salsa Mambo Festival, July 23-26 in Palm Springs.
Posted by on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:59:00 GMT

"Music For Dancers" Master class this Saturday @ The Granada:

Saturday, July 11th @ Noon: Music For Dancers master class At The Granada, Alhambra, CA   "Music for Dancers" gives you a deeper connection and a new perspective on the music. Enhan...
Posted by on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:16:00 GMT

"Music For Dancers" Master class this Sunday @ The Granada:

THIS SUNDAY! I can't wait to share with you!!My passion is helping dancers get more from the music. You'll hear music differently after this workshop."Music for Dancers" gives you a deeper connection...
Posted by on Fri, 15 May 2009 15:47:00 GMT

Check out this event: Monday Salsa Classes In LA: Unlikely Salsero (March 9th)

Hosted By:Unlikely Salsero-Don BaarnsWhen:Monday, March 30, 2009Where:Los Angeles Dance Center (formerly JNDA) - Upstairs342 N. Ford Blvd.Los Angeles, CA90022Description:Grow your dancing! You'll have...
Posted by on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:51:00 GMT

New Monday Salsa Classes In LA

Join me!Starting Monday, February 2nd, 2009, I'm back teaching with new salsa classes in LA. I'd appreciate your help getting the word out!If you know someone in the LA area and they want to learn or ...
Posted by on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:40:00 GMT

Working on Facebook

OK... I finally started working on my Facebook page. I'm a little late to the party, so please find me and add yourself as a friend. I'm hiding behind the "Don Baarns" name. Of course, my latest stuff...
Posted by on Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:07:00 GMT

Salsa Mambo Festival in Palm Springs

This week I'll be in Palm Springs at the Salsa Mambo Festival (July 24-28). I look forward to seeing all my salsa friends. I'm teaching a couple classes and will also be teaching with Edie the Salsa ...
Posted by on Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:31:00 GMT

www.UnlikelySalsero.com: 120 articles to date

Just a little bragging here... I'm crossing 120 articles on my Salsa dancing blog. If you haven't checked it out in a while, please do and tell me what you think! Don http://www.UnlikelySalsero.com &n...
Posted by on Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:30:00 GMT

I’m teaching this weekend with Edie the Salsa Freak

Edie and I are doing two 8 hour workshops this weekend. If you know someone who always said they were going to learn salsa, this makes it easy! We are in Garden Grove, and here’s a link to the ...
Posted by on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:23:00 GMT

Teaching at SalsaMambo Festival

I taught 6 classes at the 2007 Summer SalsaMambo Festival. Two were mine (Intro to Salsa & Musicality), I also taught two assisting Edie the Salsa Freak (two, three hour bootcamps) and two cl...
Posted by on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 02:56:00 GMT