As a child, I dreamt of wearing a colorful tutu with matching ballet shoes. I've always been fascinated with how ballerinas gracefully leap like a bird. They dance so gracefully that watching them seemed to be so therapeutic. My parents do not share the same fondness, that's why I didn't have the chance to learn it at all. I never lost this dream and so I was so amazed to find out that my daughter also dreams to become a ballerina.
From the Italian word, "ballare" which means "to dance," ballet originated in the 15th Century Italian Renaissance Courts and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has been globally influential and has been the foundation of other dance genres.
Here in the Philippines, the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet (HCSB) has been considered as one of the best ballet schools. It has been awarded as the “Most Outstanding Ballet School in Asia” from 2000 to the present. The school has successfully represented the Philippines in different international festivals and competitions in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Brunei, South Korea, Russia, England and the USA.
The main studio is conveniently situated at 1227 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. It houses five studios with a total dance floor of 550 square meters and a vast quadrangle where kids and parents can hang out. HCSB has branches at Saint Pedro Poveda College, Miriam College, Saint Mary's College and Alabang Country Club.
With the leadership of its founder, the multi-awarded Artistic Director, Shirley Halili-Cruz, and the strong support of its equally outstanding Associate Artistic Directors, Grace Garalde-Perez, Anna Kathrina Halili Cruz-Bueno, HCSB has garnered more than 300 national and international awards and prizes.
Among them are:
· Hall of Fame, Aliw Award as Best Classical Dance Company in the Philippines
· 8- time Ani ng Dangal Awardee for its international achievements
· People’s Choice as the Most Outstanding Performing Group
· Grand Prize Winner in the Asia Pacific Dance Competition in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines
· Grand Prize Winner in the 21st Century International Dance and Arts Festival and Competition in Genting Highlands, Malaysia
· First Prize in the Dance Excellence in Los Angeles, California, USA
· Global Excellence Award in Bangkok, Thailand
· Best Performance in classical and contemporary dance in the Bauhinia Cup International Dance Competition in Hongkong
· Global Pinoy Award
With all these achievements, I know for sure that they are very capable of turning one's ballerina dreams into a reality. Nothing is really ever too late, you know? Guess what?! They offer ballet classes not just for children, but also for adults.
For more information, you may contact HCSB through the following:
phone: 09178880102, 3724607, 4130804
e-mail: halilicruzballet@gmail.com
instagram: halilicruzballet
facebook: halilicruzballet
website: www.halilicruzballet.com
Oh, how I cannot wait to visit their studio with my daughter in tow!! As we wear our matching tutus and magically move on their dance floor, we can choose to shine with the best -- The Halili-Cruz School of Ballet. :)
