DLShannon_technique_MAINNo matter which style of dance you like most, it is a great advantage to take ballet classes. Ballet is the foundation of every style of dance.

During my training at San Francisco Ballet School, my teacher gave me some great advice. She told me, “You must master your technique before you get a job as a professional ballerina. In a ballet company you are expected to have a strong technical foundation, and only with a strong technical foundation can you then flourish as an artist. Technical prowess must come before mastering the art.”

Learn every style and technique. Be a sponge and absorb everything you can. Knowing all of the different styles and contrasting techniques will help you become a versatile dancer and expand your innate artistic talents.