But as locals of varying ethnicities gathered at BayWalk in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., on a recent Saturday night to savor the Latin music, the national conversation about Spanish-speaking immigrants wasn't far from the surface.

Those who came to dance and to watch expressed a broad range of views on the political wrangling that will determine a new national policy on illegal immigration. The issue that provoked protests and partisan mudslinging a few weeks ago is still on the minds of many.

St. Petersburg resident Ginger Platt attended Salsa Saturday so she could help entertain the French students her mother hosts. She had strong opinions on immigration policy.

"My stance is, don't change the laws, just enforce the ones you already have," Platt said.

The registered Republican, who said she doesn't always vote along party lines, said the solution is as simple as making border patrol agents "do their job."

Elizabeth Rodriguez who said she came to Salsa Saturday because she enjoys seeing a mix of races and ethnicities embracing Latino music and dance, eagerly jumped into the conversation as she stood nearby.

Although Rodriguez, who moved to the area from New York, is Puerto Rican and didn't have to worry about obtaining American citizenship, she said she is sympathetic to the immigrants' plight. She supports a guest worker program - a provision allowing immigrants to come into the United States to work that was included in the Senate version of the immigration bill that passed in May.

"I just feel a lot of the work the immigrant community is doing is worth it," she said.

"Dancing Greg" Richardson, the dance instructor for Salsa en St. Pete, said he hopes the interaction between different groups helps people form thoughtful opinions on the issue. He said that when he teaches his classes, roughly 60 percent Latino and 40 percent non-Latino, "everyone's one big family."

At the behest of President Bush, Congress spent much of the spring debating reforms to current laws. Different bills proposed creating a guest worker program, reinforcing the Mexican-U.S. border with National Guardsman and allowing amnesty for certain undocumented residents. The future of the proposed policy changes is in political limbo. The Associated Press reported June 21 that several congressional leaders doubted the differences could be resolved.

Rodriguez said the House version of the bill, which made it a felony to offer nonemergency aid to illegal immigrants, is "too drastic," but acknowledged that some undocumented residents are breaking the law.

"Obviously I'm for them being citizens, but I think they should go about it in a different way."

Andy Guerard, 24, who manages a bar above the courtyard where the dancers gathered, expressed doubts that lawmakers will be able to make a difference on immigration policy. He added that the war is a more significant issue for him.

"We've had problems with immigration for how many years? I don't think it's really going to go anywhere," Guerard said.

Outside on the sidewalks, St. Petersburg resident Barbara Dellaquila joined antiwar protestors. Although she doesn't identify with any political party, she said the government should do more to punish corporations that hire undocumented immigrants. More border agents are also needed, she said.

"They need to enforce the laws they have, close the borders, then look at it again," said Dellaquila.

Guerard, the bartender from upstairs, agreed that America relies too much on immigrant labor for reform efforts to be effective.

"When it all comes down to it, we need them," he said.

Downstairs, Dancing Greg said he keeps his own opinions about immigration to himself. He declines when students from both ends of the political spectrum ask him to sign petitions or get involved.

"They all want me on their side," he said.

Interested in more? Click here to see the multimedia presentation "Related through rhythm," or click here to see the related story, "Rhythm's universal language."