Street style and street dance are synonymous, as they both promote individuality, break societal barriers, and are limitless when built on the proper foundation.

Dancers use their bodies to communicate with their opponents and audience. Like a dialect or accent, their personal styles enhance their creative expression.

Professional dancer, and Los Angeles resident, Crystal Jackson (Crys Style) encourages fellow dancers to do what works best for them in dance and with their style.

"Just be [yourself]," Jackson told BET. "Show up as you. You can wear whatever you want to wear; you can learn whatever style you want to learn."

As someone who has battled and performed in front of crowds of all sizes, Jackson believes in being prepared without overthinking the outcome.

"Some people don't even train before a battle," said Jackson, the founder of vegan pop-up, Crystal's Kitchen. "Some people have been [battling] for so long that they don't have to, and then there are other people who train and drill every day. For me, it's a little bit in the middle. I don't like to overthink it. I want to believe that I've prepared myself regardless."

Jackson's preparations began with a solid foundation in technical styles of ballet, jazz, and contemporary at an early age. She saw a future in dance in high school where she studied ballet and modern dance daily.

"You always want to make sure you're going to the source," said the Florida native. "It's really easy to fake things, but a person who has an eye for [technique] is going to know whether you've done your training, or whether you're just faking it. I think it's important to have your technique, your foundation before you do other things."

The importance of having a foundation and knowing the origins of styles is also prevalent in street fashion. According to the Parsons School of Design, "Streetwear remixes an array of fashion and visual references into its own medium."

Since her foundation was stable, Jackson was able to adventure into other forms of dance. Jackson attributes defining her style as a movement artist to her time with a competition studio in high school and her introduction to the battle scene.

"When I graduated high school, that's when I discovered the battle scene," said Jackson. "Tyler Singletary, a battler, introduced me. That's when I picked up on other styles like popping, whacking, and just figuring out how to fuse the two. I would definitely say my style draws from my traditional classes and from learning more street styles and being able to put them together seamlessly."

Authenticity and accountability are essential for the battle scene, according to Jackson. Unlike performing alongside artists such as Camila Cabella and The Weeknd, when dancing in battles like the Red Bull Dance Your Style competition, she relies solely on herself.

"There's nobody to tell you the steps or have you come to rehearsal," said Jackson. "It's easy to get lost in the sauce, the music, the lights, and everything, so I really want to stay true to myself. That's with anything, but I think especially for battles and things like [the Red Bull Dance Your Style competition]. I don't want to lose myself. I want to still be authentic."

Through clothes and accessories, street style can be personalized to create an authentic and unique ensemble. Like battle culture, the art of street-style photography is organic and spontaneous. According to Vogue, the original street style photographers sought after neighborhood locals who inhabited this world with notable flair.

Since the beginning of Hip Hop culture in the 1970s, men have dominated street dance and street style. As a Black woman breaking down barriers with her moves on the battle scene, Jackson is grateful for the welcome she received when entering street dance.

"I haven't really had to fight in a way," said Jackson. "I kind of just showed up as myself, and I feel like I get respect for that. I think people can see that I'm really here to dance."

Jackson, a member of the all-female empowerment collective, The Council, hopes other women experience similar receptions to the battle scene. She was inspired by the women trailblazers before her and aspires to be an inspiration to others.

"You don't have to be timid just because you're the only woman in the room," said Jackson. "Be assertive, say what you deserve, and what you're going to accept. I hope young women really get that from seeing me or seeing others dance. All women in the art world right now [are] breaking down walls. So, I pray that young women see that and can be inspired to do the same."