The Halili School of Ballet prepares summer activities

MANILA, Philippines - The Halili Cruz School of Ballet (HCSB) presents grand dance concerts at the Meralco Theater, with the second one scheduled tonight. More than 400 dancers are presented in the two shows.

The group just completed touring performances with Sayaw Pinoy in Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Olongapo City, Pagadian City, Lapuyan, Ozamis City, Dumaguete City, Mabinay City, Tanjay City, Baguio City, Roxas City, Sigma, Dumalag, Pontevedra, Dumarao, Gingoog, Medina, Butuan City, Carmen, Buenavista, Tubigon, Tagbilaran, Zamboanga del Sur and Baguio City. Bringing quality dance performances closer to the people had been the objective of the touring dance concerts. 

Alongside these activities is the preparation for Dance Excellence 2013 in Los Angeles on March 30 to April 7 where the school is once again invited to represent the Philippines in the global event. The HCSB delegation is composed of 40 dancers and teachers. At the helm of all these endeavors is the HCSB artistic team led by artistic director, Shirley Halili-Cruz, assisted by teachers Grace Garalde-Perez, Anna Kathrina Cruz and Anna Lissa Tuazon-Balmadrid.

The school is also busy preparing for the Summer Dance Workshop 2013 and other exciting summer activities. For Summer 2013, the school has organized courses that will make the summer vacation of boys and girls, children, teens and adults, productive and filled with great fun. The courses offered are all levels of classical ballet, hip-hop, modern contemporary dance and taekwondo. Visiting directors from England, Korea, Spain and Thailand will conduct dance workshops. The Summer Dance Workshop will start on April 3. It will culminate with a grand recital on May 21 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila.

The HCSB is the official school of the multi-awarded Quezon City Ballet/Halili-Cruz Ballet Company. The school has been awarded as the Most Outstanding Ballet School in Asia for consistently winning first prize in the different international competitions. Recently, HCSB won the top awards in the 14th Asia Pacific Dance Competition held in Hong Kong. HCSB also won gold trophies in the International Dance Competition held in Los Angeles, California. The school has successfully represented the Philippines in international festivals and competitions in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Genting Highlands, Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, Taiwan, Beijing, Korea, Thailand, China, Brunei, Los Angeles, California and New York.   

HSCB is known for its high standard of ballet education, knowledgeable and competent artistic director and teachers, disciplined students, personalized method of teaching, quality performances and generous in giving opportunities to its dance students. It has produced dancers who are now members of the professional dance companies in the Philippines and abroad. HCSB is an affiliate of the American Academy of Ballet, New York and the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing, Singapore and Australia.

For April and May, HCSB is invited to perform in Los Angeles, California, Paris and Ethiopia.

There will also be summer dance workshops in the HCSB branches in St. Pedro Poveda College, Miriam College, St. Mary’s College and Alabang Country Club.

The Halili-Cruz School of Ballet Main Studio is at 1227 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City (tel. nos. 372-4607 or 413-0804).