The bongos beat to a count of eight while the horns strain in a sensuous Latin mix. The music pulses from Sonido Unidad, a salsa band from New Haven.

For this night, at least, at JP's Ultra Lounge in West Haven, the cold seems far away. On the floor, they dance, the men with women in vibrantly colored dresses that move with each step, twirling in sync, both sexy and elegant.

The music not only surrounds them, it's possessed them, unhinged their hips and transported them, for these moments, at least, to a distant, steamy Caribbean oasis. Such is the power, the energy, and the magic, of the dance called salsa.

Salsa's heritage is primarily Latin and Afro-Cuban with a fusion of cultures and traditions from around the world. Its popularity

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today crosses racial, ethnic and generational boundaries. "Dancing salsa can merge the spectrum of dance, language, culture and history," says Alisa Bowens, a maestra de salsa (English equivalent to a well-respected teacher of salsa), who owns 3 salsa studios in the state.

"Right now salsa is huge in Connecticut," says Bowens.

Maria Vitagliano, of Milford, a former Bowens' student, began dancing in 1999 for the simple love of Latin music and salsa. She's seen salsa come into the mainstream. "Before in it was in New Haven it was in New York, and Alisa is really responsible for bringing salsa to New Haven," Vitagliano says.

To some, salsa is a way of life, and many will tell you that no one's life is more devoted to the dance than that of Bowens, a Bethany resident, who six years ago left her career running a family construction company to dedicate herself to salsa. "When I took my first class, I was instantaneously addicted," Bowens says. "I probably even salsa in my sleep."

And she's become widely recognized and respected. Her list of accomplishments includes a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for conducting the world's largest salsa lesson with more than 6,000 people on the Green in New Haven in 2005. In addition to her dance studios, she also founded her own professional dance company, the Latin Heat Dance Team, and has initiated many of the Latin nights at clubs in the region.

Although Bowens is a performer and a practitioner, she is not a competitor. Bowens describes the dancing she does as straight from the islands. It will get in your body and move you from the inside out, she says, and she wants others to experience the same. "Salsa gives me life," says Bowens. "It has touched my soul and spirit. It has made a part of my life become alive. It is lit and it shines, and will never ever go out until the day I leave this earth," said Bowens.

Bowens opened her first studio, Alisa's House of Salsa I, Studio of Latin Dance, in 2002 in New Haven. Soon to follow was Alisa's House of Salsa II in Waterbury, and Alisa's House of Salsa III in Hartford.

Many of Alisa's students take her classes for self-esteem, for exercise and, of course, for fun. "Happy people like to dance," says Bowens.

Dr. Donald Alfano, who teaches Latin and Caribbean music at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, says, "Alisa is a wonderful dancer and teacher. She makes the steps of salsa enjoyable and accessible to all. Her enthusiasm is contagious and anyone who's interested in learning salsa would benefit tremendously from going to Alisa's House of Salsa."

Latin Heat, Bowens' dance team, is made up of dancers who merged their talents two years ago. "Latin Heat is Latin and it's hot and fiery," says Bowens. The group, the size of which varies according to events, travels throughout the area to perform at private parties, clubs and other events.

Bowens also volunteers her salsa talents and has performed at senior centers, schools and even at a church in New London where they insisted on blessing her feet. "People tell me, 'you are going to break an ankle,' " says Bowens. "I tell them I'm fine. These feet have been blessed."

Jose Flores, of East Haven, who spent his childhood in Cuba, began taking salsa lessons with Bowens two years ago. Growing up in Cuba he heard salsa and other Latin music emanating from buildings, but never actually learned the steps. When he moved to the United States at the age of 13, his father began to take him to the Cuban Club in Hartford, where he picked up on salsa's moves. When he began his lessons with Alisa in 2005, he advanced quickly. Flores now teaches salsa at Alisa's studio in New Haven on Monday nights.

For Bowens, salsa is more than a way to have fun and de-stress. Her work is changing the lives of others. She says one of her most rewarding experiences was helping a young mother rediscover her passion for dance by giving her free salsa lessons at her New Haven studio. The woman had given birth to a child at a young age and was struggling. After her first lesson, Bowens says the girl hugged her and wouldn't let go.

Holding back tears, Bowens recalled the moment. "She said to me, 'Dancing was my life, and you don't know what you just did in a hour and a half. You gave me my life back.' And that," Alisa said, "Is why I do what I do."