Salsa instructor extraordinaire Alisa Bowens-Mercado made her way from New Haven to Newtown on Tuesday, February 17 to spend the night dancing away for the first time in the indoor space of Aquila’s Nest Vineyards.

The night began with the sounds of Latin America floating through the air, and Bowens-Mercado took a moment to discuss her 26 years of teaching with The Newtown Bee.

“It actually is [my Newtown debut],” she said. “I love it. I love venturing out to different parts of the state where we can engage different community. We want people to know how much fun the Latin dance life community is, and how embracing it is, and how warm it is.”

Bowens-Mercado said she hopes to turn Aquila’s Nest into a “salsa dance land.” While the event on February 17 did not go as planned, she did reiterate she hopes to return to the Sandy Hook venue in the summer.

“Being in Newtown, getting more folks introduced to Latin music is amazing and this is what I live for,” Bowens-Mercado said.

Bowens-Mercado’s classes help those who have never danced before learn the basics of classic Latin dances: salsa, bachata, and merengue. Those who pay extra attention may leave having learned a word or two in Spanish, and with a new friend (or seven).

Bowens-Mercado believes music is a “common denominator amongst all people,” and that dance is an added “layer” to that.

“When you can communicate with people on a dance level, there really is nothing else like it in the world. I think more people need to dance now more than ever,” she shared. Dance enthusiasts, salsa music enjoyers, and dance-curious people are invited to join her at her home studio in New Haven or at future events around the area.

“We want Newtown to find their rhythm,” Bowens-Mercado said with a smile. While she hosts weekly classes in New Haven, she also offers monthly socials for people to practice what they have learned. Her classes at places like Aquila’s Nest and Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury follow the same format: instruction of the basic steps of salsa and bachata, then the floor opens for social dancing. All of her classes are “no experience and no partner necessary.” She focuses on building a strong foundation for salsa and bachata and adds on from there.

Social dancing is a major aspect of Latin dance. Social dancing can be found all over the state because, as Bowens-Mercado noted, it is “community based.” She explained that not only are dancers going out and practicing their skills, they meet other people who are at different levels or the same level, and there is a “comradery or bond” with the others on the floor.

Bowens-Mercado said, “But then you pick up steps from people, you watch people’s moves and you become inspired and then you want to dive in more because there’s all different layers and levels to Latin dancing.”

She shared that the most fun part of teaching salsa is watching people mature and learn more salsa steps. She calls herself a “proud salsa momma.” Over 26 years of teaching, Bowens-Mercado says she has witnessed “lives transform,” “friendships develop,” and she is responsible for ten marriages.

“I’ve seen the beauty of connection and the joy it can bring to a community. So, Newtown, you know, they dig their heels in — no pun intended — it creates a universe of just absolute beauty and connectivity while embracing diverse music,” Bowens-Mercado said. She invites readers to keep their eyes peeled for future events and to join her on the dance floor.

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.