Alisa's House of Salsa         

About Alisa Bowens...

Alisa K. Bowens [Artistic Director, Choreographer, Performer and Instructor]

 

Alisa started her dancing journey at the age of three years old. Ms.Bowens who is a classically trained ballet, tap, and jazz dancer, has studied with Gloria Jeans’ Dance Company (Home Of The Worid Tap Dance Champions) for over 16 years. This is where Alisa obtained her Dance Masters Of America (DMA), Professional Teaching Certifcate. In College (Northeastern University, Boston, MA), Alisa majored in Criminal Justice, but loved the dance class that she attended every Tuesday and Thursday. After college, she went home to join the family business, a General Contracting firm in which she ran for a while. After almost eleven years Alisa felt she needed an outlet, stress-reliever, some unwind-time; so in 1998, she decided to take a Latin “Salsa” dance class. Instantly, Alisa was addicted to the music, the movements, the life and spirit of Salsa dancing. After a few classes, endless practices, and a scuffed-up kitchen foor; Alisa and her then dance partner started performing at Local parties, Corporate Events, Dance benefts, Senior homes etc... Everyone in the community started to notice Alisa’s passion for Salsa. She quickly became known as “La Morena Que Baila Salsa” (The Woman That Dances Salsa). Alisa who is African-American, was assumed to be of Latin decent, either Dominican or Puerto Rican, because she danced salsa and spoke Spanish with a “crisp latin accent”. Many admired the fact that she represented a piece of their Latin culture and others appreciated the fact that you need not be Latino/a to dance Salsa.

 

In the fall of 2000, Alisa started teaching at Southern Connecticut State University for the Multi-cultural Center. This began her career as a Latin Dance Instructor. Alisa then started promoting “Latin Nights” at various Nightclubs and Restaurants. She teaches a 1 hour class and then students and patrons of these establishments enjoy a DJ for the rest of the night. Alisa, almost overnight, has a devoted following of Salsa Dancers who enjoy her patient teaching ability, her warm personality, and her “Let Me Entertain You”, “Broadway” style of Dance. In September of 2002, Alisa opened Alisa’s House of Salsa I, Studio Of Latin Dance, in New Haven, Connecticut. Her grand opening was a huge success and her studio location is now known as the “Moving Billboard Downtown", because of the entertainment provided by the open glass windows. In the Winter of 2003, Alisa’s House Of Salsa II, opened in Waterbury, Connecticut. In the summer of 2004, Alisa’s House Of Salsa III opened their doors in Hartford, Connecticut.   Entertainment is provided by Alisa’s House Of Salsa Professional Dance Company, the Latin Heat Dance Team. Since the House of Salsa has been open, there has been more than a 1000 pairs of feet to walk through her doors.

 

Performance History: Alisa has opened for Grammy-Award Winner Rueben Blades, She was the lead Back-Up Dancer for M&M Recording Artist Hector-Bonet (Bronx, NYC). Currently Alisa is a Choreographer/Dancer/Performer with the Concert Tour of Morning, Noon, and Night, Featuring A.W. Nardi (West Palm Beach, FLA). She has opened for Jose Alberto “El Canario”, and has been on the show bill with Huey Dunbar, Brenda K. Starr, Tito Nieves, Tiempo Libre, Eddie Palmieri, India (Salsa Palooza Tour), Spanish Harlem Orquestra, & Dee Dee Bridgewater (Summer Concert Series). She has also been an Accompany Dancer for Mi Cata (Afro-Latin Salsa band) and Marion Meadows, Jazz Saxophone player.

 

Television/Radio: Future Host Of La Mega’s Latino Caliente Latin Dance TV Show. Spotlight with News Channel 8 (ABC), Cinco De Mayo, Good Morning CT with Matt Scott, Arts & Ideas 10th Anniversary, It’s Your Weekend with Gill Simmons. Media Package with Power 104.1 FM Radio, Puerto Rican Day Parade. Radio Promotional Advertisement with Hot 93.7 FM Radio. Live Broadcast Interviews with 96.0 FM Radio, 1060 AM Radio. PBS Special Making it In New England & Live TV Interview with Songwriter, Cast and Backup Dancers.

 

Theatre/Concert: Shubert Theatre (New Haven, CT), Opening Act For the Caliente Concert Series with Tiempo Libre (Cuban/Salsa Band, Miami Based IMG Artist) Palace Theatre (Waterbury, CT), Latin Festival Pre-Show, Salsa Palooza Concert Series with Eddie Palmeri and La India (IMG Artist).

 

Night Life Promoter: Host of Latin Night at Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino Ultra 88 Nightclub/Lounge, Indigo Lounge, NEAT Lounge, Club Oracle, Cafe Bottega, Lush Nightclub, The Blues Cafe, Sonomas Bar & Grille, Congas Latin Lounge, Miyas Sushi Bar, Burns Cafe, and many more.

 

Art & Wellness Centers: Teaching Artist at the Green Street Art Center (Middletown, CT), The Children’s Museum (New Ha-ven, CT), Main Stage Dancer For Arts & Ideas 10”’ Anniversary Festival. Performance Team For the “Middletown Dances Project” (Wesleyan Universities Creative Art Department). Latin Dance Teacher at RISE Wellness Center (Meriden, CT).

 

Fitness Centers: LA Fitness (Orange, CT Location), ESPN (Bristol, CT), and The JCC (Jewish Community Center) Latin Aerobics Instructor. Manhattan Fitness Latin Aerobics Instructor.

 

Universities/Colleges: Yale University, Quinnipiac University, Central Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University and Wesleyan University, “Latin Dance Team” Instructor. 

 

Education Programs: New Haven Board Or Education, Waterbury Youth Services, and Casa Otonal “Creating Diversity Through The Language Of Latin Dance” Program Director. (Alisa has introduced this program to over 100 Schools in the State Of Connecticut).

 

National Acknowledgments: Guinness Book Of World Records Dance Instructor For “The World’s Largest Salsa Lesson”. Taught on Saturday June 25th, 2005, with over 2,800 participants. History was made on this Day Part Of Arts & Ideas Festival, 10th Anniversary Celebration.

 

Dance Teams: AHOS Performance Team, Latin Heat Dance Co., Salsa Elite Dance Co., Salsa Elite Jr. Dance Co.