Life & Leisure

Halili-Cruz School of Ballet Bloggers Conference

I have been fascinated by ballet for the longest time. I admire ballerinas who put in a lot of effort into their training to dance gracefully in front of audiences. I also enjoy watching them put beautifully choreographed pieces into life. To be honest, at one point, I had dreamed of becoming a ballerina, not professionally but maybe, just for a recital or two. Yes, a girl can dream.
 
Well, it’s probably a bit late to realize that dream but fortunately, I got the next best thing. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Bloggers conference put together by the prestigious Halili-Cruz School of Ballet and Tag Media. A number of bloggers went along with their children or young relatives while I went with my little toddler. The event featured performances by the school’s very own students, some as young as 4 years old. 
 
Here is a short video of one of their dazzling presentations:
 
 
We also got to learn more about the school, its history, curriculum, and facilities. The school’s  associate directors, Grace Garalde-Perez and Anna Kathrina Halili-Cruz Bueno, were there to facilitate the event.
 
The Halili-Cruz School of Ballet (HCSB) was founded by Ms. Shirley-Halili Cruz in 1985 to fulfill her dream and to share her passion. It started out with 46 students but now, the school is filled with almost a thousand talented individuals, all eager to perfect their craft.
 
L-R Ms. Grace, Ms. Shirley, and Ms. Anna
The main studio is located in an impressive 2 storey buiding. It has 5 spacious studios (4 of which are fully air-conditioned) equipped with ideal barres, resilient wooden floors, full length mirrors, audio systems, dressing rooms, rest and shower rooms, waiting areas, ample parking space and canteen.  It also has a dance shop and a costume room.
 
 
As for its programs, Shirley Halili Cruz, the school’s founder and director formulated a 2 level Tiny Tots Syllabus, 5 level Baby Ballet Syllabus and a 12 level Classical Ballet Syllabus that considered the Filipino physique, innate artistic ability and culture.  The school offers the syllabi all year round. The students and staff are also afforded opportunities join local and international dance workshops, festivals and competitions. 
 
 
To monitor their students’ progress, a semi annual evaluation is done in both theoretical and practical aspects.
 
Besides ballet, the school also offers other dance courses such as: Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Contemporary.  It also holds 3 grand recitals a year aside from other invitational shows, festivals, competitions and outreach performances.
 
The school is staffed by competent teachers who work together with Director in the vision to equip students with tools and rudiments of the art and to uphold excellence in dance training.  The teachers are all personally trained by Shirley for more the 20yrs, and are all outstanding graduates of the school.  They are also soloists of the Quezon City Ballet (Halili-Cruz Dance Company), the performing group of the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet.
 
During the conference, aside from the performances, the kiddie guests and the bloggers themselves got to experience joining a ballet class in one of their spacious studios. I wasn’t able to join because my toddler was with me but I was thrilled to learn that they offered adult ballet classes. These classes are geared towards fitness and health rather than intense training. 
 
The pretty little princesses in tutus dance with other future ballerinas.
 
 
 Some of the bloggers got to have a mini adult ballet class.
 
 


Looks like someone’s pretty mesmerized herself.

  Bloggers with  HCSB’s associate directors and TAG Media’s COO, Ms. Grace Bondad Nicolas. photo grabbed from HCSB official Facebook page
 
My previous post mentioned that the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet has received numerous awards and prizes. It was such a thrill being with such multiawarded artists.
 
 
 
If you’re looking for a looking for a good ballet or dance school for your little one, the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet is backed by 30 years of artistic excellence, harnessed by discipline and fueled by the love for ballet.
 
Business Address:          
Main Studio
1227 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City Philippines 1100
Branches:
St. Pedro Poveda College, Quezon City
Miriam College, Quezon City
St. Mary’s College, Quezon City
Ayala Alabang Country Club, Muntinlupa

For more details,  just visit their website and social networking sites:
Instagram: @halilicruzballet
Email Address: [email protected]
 
Note: Information and pictures on HCSB are based on press kit provided. 

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15 Comments

  1. I took ballet in a local dance school here in Baguio, First Allegro, but aside from Ballet Manila, I've not heard of any other dance schools that offer ballet, it's such a shame that my daughter didn't have the same love I did for ballet so I wasn't able to pass on my toe shoes to anyone. 😛 watching the performance you posted made me miss my glory days, and although I still have VHS tapes of my performances, it truly made me want to dance again. 😛 I'm glad that there is still a ballet school that wants to encourage more children to take up ballet. 🙂

  2. I've seen similar blog post from my facebook feed last time about Halili Cruz School of Ballet too. I really admire ballet dancers and how graceful that can be in stage. It looks easy but I can't imagine how much hard work they put everyday to be a good ballerina. I also admire the founder of the school and how she turned her passion to business that helps kids and adults fulfill their dreams to be a ballerina.

  3. The kids look so elegant in the photographs!! Beautiful dance form!! 🙂

  4. wanted this since I was a kid but still not doing it. Promised myself if I have my own I she will be a balerina. 🙂

  5. Yeah if she'd be interested and we have tge resources, I'd love for her to try it.Wow, lucky you! Would have loved to join ballet classes then.

  6. Yes probably! I'm also amazed by them.It takes a lot of dedication and hard work.

  7. Yes I think it would be great for her to learn discipline and enjoy dancing.

  8. It's a dream of mine too so one of these days I'd be enrolling in their adult ballet classes.

  9. I love watching ballet performances and I admit that it's one of my frustrations when I was young.But now I'm pretty sure I can't do this because I don't have a flexible body.

  10. This is interesting. I am not a dancer at all. But if I have a child someday, I might get them involved in this.

    Abby | Life in the Fash Lane

  11. Already read about Halili Cruz in another blog. But yes, Halili Cruz is a prestigious school for learning ballet. All those who would love to learn ballet should enroll there.

    -Me-An of http://yogoandcream.com

  12. The kids are soo cute in their tutus

  13. I think I have read about this in another blog. Maybe you were there together? Hehehe! I am really amazed by people who are able to do this art perfectly and gracefully. And kudos to the trainers for persevering in continuously teaching the ballet students. Who knows maybe one of them will be famous worldwide 🙂

    xx, Wandering Ella

  14. It would be so cute to watch your little princess dance and do some spinning and up and down and the likes. We had ballet class in high school before and i just cant remember the terms na. Hahah.

  15. Ballet is fun to watch. Talk about good old Italy!!!

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