In the early years I studied three main things: dance, music, and physics.  Had I not been a dancer I would have been a musician.  Had I not been a musician, I would have not become a physicist, but most likely an architect.  Not the same thing, I know, but very related.

What these three professions have in common is a strong artistic penchant backed by strong technical training.

So – technique versus artistry: which is more important?  To answer the question, let’s build a house.

I have lots of brand new power tools.  They’re great – they’re beautiful, they are precise, they are consistent, and of course, they’re powerful.  I have a beautiful house in mind that I will use the tools to create.

Can I build my house without the power tools?  Absolutely.  But there is a high probability that it will take much longer, will not be as fitting to the design I have in my head, will not be as stable, and in some cases, dangerous.  But it can be done.

I can also take all of my beautiful tools, place them on a beautiful table to show them to people, and nothing else.  I think we can all agree that that would be a pretty useless activity, and one that gets old pretty quickly.

I’m hoping you get my drift.  Technique is a tool to be used towards an end; artistry is what you do with it.

So which is more important, technique versus artistry?  Well, the truth is, if you want to be a memorable professional you must have both.  You must have both.  Without both, ugly buildings are built, high-level boring dances are choreographed, pretty but repetitive shows are created that insure that audience members will continuously be checking their smartphones during shows.  In the worst case scenarios, people get hurt or killed.

On the positive side, I guess it helps sell alcohol after a show.  But that is not the main reason most of us decided to become dancers.

Technique is simply the ability to do the same thing twice, and to do it without hurting oneself.  Great technique is being able to do a great many things in this way.

But you can decide to not study technique – because you’re an artist, because you need to express yourself,  because technique is just a bunch of tricks you don’t need – whatever the reason.  And after a few years of doing things your own way you’ll eventually find little tips that work for you in your style.  Things that help you attain your objectives and permit you to repeat things night after night.

Basically, you will have taught yourself a technique.  But people before you have been doing that for centuries.  All aspects of technique, whatever the discipline or dance style, were discovered by people doing just that.

So why would you want to spend years on your own discovering information that a great teacher could have given you in five minutes?

Rick Tjia

Founder of Choreography Online and JamarGig -UNITED STATES, CANADA

Rick's multifaceted career spans diverse disciplines in the world of entertainment. Starting with tap dancing and branching into classical ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary dance under renowned teachers, his journey encompasses an extensive background in dance, acting, and even music, including performances with prestigious companies like Ballet Austin, Boston Ballet, and Delta Festival Ballet. Beyond the stage, he delved into film and television in Los Angeles, working with renowned choreographers and directors. His creative talents extend to composing, choreographing, judging dance competitions, and teaching workshops globally. With over 16 years as a Talent Scout at Cirque du Soleil, specializing in dance, Rick has contributed significantly to casting, operational and business strategies, and creative innovations. He's also a founder of innovative projects like Choreography Online and JamarGig.