Hectic is an understatement to describe the activities at the Shirley Halili-Cruz School of Ballet (SHCSB). After the successful thanksgiving concert entitled “Salute to Pinoy” a celebration of the achievements of the young Filipinos in dance last Sept. 13, 2009 at the Main Theatre of the Cultural Center of the Philippines; the numerous performances and outreach workshops in schools like St. Pedro Poveda College, Miriam College, Liceo de Cagayan, and Adamson University, in the Women’s Rehabilitation Center in Mandaluyong; in the different local government units like Cebu City, Batac City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Roxas City, the group immediately began rehearsals in preparation for their participation in the 21st Century International Arts and Dance Festival in Genting Highlands, Malaysia.

The 21st Century International Arts and Dance Festival is an international festival for young dancers which shall be held on Nov. 25-27, 2009 in Genting Highlands, Malaysia. This festival is a global event. It brings together some of the finest young dancers from around the world to exchange ideas and share their love of dance – on and off the stage. Each year the 21st Century International Arts and Dance Festival selects one dance group from the different countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and America to participate in the festival and competition.

This year, in recognition of the SHCSB’s outstanding work in the dance and performance arts, Shirley Halili-Cruz and the dancers of the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet is once again chosen as the official delegates of the Philippines in the 21st Century International Arts and Dance Festival. The festival will be participated in by about 800 participants from the different parts of the world. The goal of the festival and competition is to inspire young dancers and teachers to fulfill their artistic dream and desires through education and performance.

The SHCSB from its end selected 26 dancers to participate in various activities of the festival and competition. The Philippine delegation is composed of the following: Artistic Director Shirley Halili-Cruz, with Teachers Grace Garalde-Perez and Anna Lissa Tuazon-Balmadrid and dancers Jillian Feliciano, Ella Louise Francia, Angela Esluzar, Margarita Isabelle Garcia, Veronica Mendoza, Selina Ma. Victoria Noel, Maxime Andrea Leigh Samson, Chloe Gabrielle Torres, Samantha Azura, Anne Patrice Barin, Meryl Jacqueline Chua, Kimberly Anne Therese Davies, Mary Ann Joy Farro, Samantha Nicole Herrera, Audrey Kho, Angelica Khong Hun, Ma. Mikaela Jose, Isabella Marta Legarda, Clarisse Andrea Lim, Ma. Elizabeth Lo, Nicole Paredes, Shayna Robbie Ragos-Ty, Erika Faye Rapinan, Marie Angelique Reyes, and Ma. Winnalee Young.

The 21st Century International Arts and Dance Festival is a unique and great opportunity of learning and exposure for the dancers. The SHCSB is the only dance school that provides such opportunity to its young aspiring ballerinas. In fact, the SHCSB considers participation in international training, workshops, festivals and competitions as integral to the wholistic development of its students. It is intended to provide cultural exposure at global level to make the students not only artistically excellent but intellectually and culturally equipped ballerinas.

The trip of the SHCSB to Genting Highlands, Malaysia is just one of the many lined up international travels of the school. It is such a privilege and growing opportunity to be part of the SHCSB family. The school offers fun and productive activities that will make young girls and boys excellent dancers and cultured persons.

Aside from participating in international competitions and festivals, the SHCSB also regularly conducts CSTD examinations to insure the accuracy of its ballet education and standard of teaching. The excellent performance of its students and enviable results in this international examination is indeed an affirmation that the SHCSB provides its students accurate ballet theory and dance techniques that conforms with international standards. The SHCSB prides itself with high standard of ballet education, artistically excellent performances, creative choreographies, best school in molding talents of very young children, thus, the school is awarded as the Most Outstanding Ballet School in Asia since 2000 to the present. Further affirming its achievement in dance is the 2nd Aliw Award which the Halili-Cruz Dance Company received last Nov. 17, 2009.

The driving force behind the successes of the SHCSB is its founder and artistic director Shirley Halili-Cruz who is one of the prime movers of dance in the country. She is everywhere, attending to the affairs of her school and dance company while providing an active and quality leadership to the National Committee on Dance of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Ms. Halili-Cruz organize national and international events for the Philippine dance community inspired by her rich experiences from participation to the different international events.

It had been the hope of Ms. Halili-Cruz to organize dance events that would gain international prominence. She began the realization of this dream with the implementation of the Dance Xchange: The First International Dance Workshop and Festival and the up coming Sayaw Pinoy: The First NCCA National Dance Competition.

Indeed, life at the Shirley Halili-Cruz School of Ballet is a continued excitement as activities never stop. What is admirable though is the fact that everything is done with quality and excellence. Thus, the numerous awards and recognition for the school, the company and for Shirley Halili-Cruz herself.