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At the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet (HCSB), the most fitting way to celebrate thanksgiving and triumph in dance is through a dance performance.

"Salute to Pinoy," a dance concert, is a celebration by and for the energetic and enthusiastic HCSB dancers. The concert will be held at the Main Theatre of the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Sept. 13, 6 p.m.

The dance concert will feature all HCSB dancers who have won a grand slam victory for the country in different international competitions. Some of these international dance competitions were in Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore; Malaysia; Korea; and Los Angeles, California, USA.

Last July 16-21, 2009, the Shirley Halili-Cruz dancers competed as the Philippine representatives in the 11th Asia-Pacific Dance Competition held in Bangkok, Thailand, besting more than 800 dancers from Australia, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Japan, India, Malaysia, Hongkong, and Indonesia.

There, the Philippines emerged as the Grand Prize Winner, garnering 12 Perpetual Trophies (awarded to competitors who garnered the highest grade in the major categories), 22 Gold Trophies, First prize winner and the Grand Champion in both Classical Ballet and Modern Contemporary Dance!

"I had been going around the world as adjudicator of different international dance competitions, but I have never seen such strength, versatility, technique, and artistry. You are truly world-class artists," said the competition judges of the HCSB dancers.

The achievements of the Halili-Cruz dancers made the international community recognize that the Philippines has a great reservoir of talents and creativity which showcase the depth of the Filipino soul. The 70 young and talented dancers proved to their counterparts that dedication, good training, and teamwork are keys to success.

The three-day event proved to be challenging to the HCSB dancers who competed against 25 dance troops in various categories.

From the successful recitals last March 29 and June 4, 2009, at the Meralco Theatre and CCP Main Theatre, the successful participation in the Dance Excellence 2009 in Los Angeles, California, last April 4-11, 2009, where they brought home four First Prizes, and in the Ansan Arts Festival in Korea last May 2-6, 2009, the teachers and students of the HCSB show how great the enthusiasm is in their ballet classes, rehearsals, and performances in different venues around the country and in international dance competitions.

This year, the school is preparing 70 students for entry into various categories of classical ballet, modern dance, neo-classical, and national.

The school's dedicated and committed artistic team is headed by artistic director Shirley Halili-Cruz and ballet teachers Grace Garalde-Perez and Anna Tuazon-Balmadrid who choreographed 59 new numbers for the 11th Asia-Pacific Dance Competition.

The HCSB delegation is composed of the following:

Professional Category: Cheka Cabreza, Lemuel Capa, Nordic Caraig, Gabby Quinto, Glenn Ragel;

Under 18 Category: Regine Magbitang, Nicole Orteza, Aira Rostrata, Misha Bernas, Rizza de Jesus, Sophia Magadia, Lindsay Lopez;

Under 15 Category: Agatha Bongosia, Princess Brillantes, Chelsea Cacho, Bei Castigador, Frances Castro, Nicole Chiong, Chi Chi Chua, Iye Cortez, Jackie del Pilar, Joyce Dizon, Mary Ann Farro, Precious Flores, Princess Flores, Raja Gavina, Jeng Guerrero, Jolina Leonardo, Alyssa Morales, Katja Palisoc, Erika Rapinan, Cheekey Reyes, Cassey Ruiz, Anna Santos, Sharmaine Valeroso, Allysa Escota

Under 12 Category: Camille Asi, Kariz Bautista, Leila Caro, Tisha Caro, Franzia Castro, Krisha Castueras, Jackie Chua, Kimberly Davies, Allison Ee, Nyssa Escarez, Rieza Escarez, Andrea Evangelista, Nica Ferrer, Ella Francia, Allyza Francisco, Ferro Lao, Kelly Lao, Pia Leido, Louisse Lopez, Summer Magsino, Gabby Paras, Nicole Paredes, .Isabelle Sarrosa, Angela Rivera, Eia Tagaban, Kahrie Tizon, Loise Tizon, Nicolei Umali, Alee Young

Under 8 Category: Nica Mendoza, Toni Noel, Yana Hermoso, Jill Feliciano, Ianne Francisco, Angela Esluzar