 When he was nine years old, violinist Pierre Rode in Bordeaux heard his music; he was so impressed that he sent a recommendation letter to Pierre Baillot, Luigi Cherubini and Rodolphe Kreutzer.Thus Dancla went to the Paris Conservatory and studied with Baillot for violin and Fromental Halévy for composition.He was strongly influenced by Niccolò Paganini, whom he heard in 1830, as well as by Henri Vieuxtemps.