I have had about 10 years of adult ballet and took class about 2 times a week. I can do 3 good continous pirouettes on a good day and 2 on most days. However, I don't see how this has anything to do with latin dancing.
I don't take ballet anymore since after concluding that it didn't help my smooth and latin dancing that much anymore. I have even thought about going back to ballet classes since I really enjoyed it--but I am now just taking more latin and smooth lessons, pilates, weights, and doing an elypical machine for cardio. There is just so many hours in the day. I spend 2 hours a day in the gym like many others, plus take 2 lessons a week, but don't practice since my am. partner lives out of town and is busy with work.
How many latin, standard and other dancers on this site take ballet and does it help your dancing. I can see taking ballet when first starting out, but later on other things take priority.
What I need is an available, motivated practice partner and a good latin technique class. Or be willing to spend enough money to make my latin and smooth coachs a practice partner.
It takes awhile to be able to do pirouettes. It took me about 2 years of classes working on the basics. One good pirouette is harder to do that two sloppy ones. Enroll in a ballet class twice a week and stick with it if pirouettes are your goal--but ballet has many other benefits to your dancing--like balance, posture, presence, using your hands, and musicality.
