She is a scion of the trailblazing Halili-Cruz family and Anna Halili-Cruz Bueno, as expected from such an illustrious lineage, also has turned out to be an achiever – a dance artist/educator par excellence. Her team-mate and partner, Grace Garalde Perez, has equally excelled in the field of arts. Both of them are associate artistic directors of the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet (HCSB).
A dance director, dance teacher, costume designer and choreographer at her family’s Halili-Cruz School of Ballet, where she is also office manager/administrator, Anna has proven her mettle through the various awards bestowed upon her.
Among her awards are World-Class Achiever as Dance Artist; Bisig Kabataan Youth Advocate & Leadership Awardee; Global Excellence Award in the Performing Arts; Parangal ng Bayan Awardee; Gold Medalist, American Academy of Ballet, New York; 2017 Netizens Choice Modern Day Renaissance Woman; and 2017 Outstanding Achievement as Administrative Director.
As choreographer, Anna is the recipient of national and international awards from dance competitions in Asia, America and Europe. Her choreographies have been first prize winners in most of the international competitions.
Grace, who is a Journalism graduate but her passion for the arts, especially dance, won over her academic skills, is also versatile, creative and dedicated as dance educator. She started her dance training under the personal tutelage of Dr. Shirley Halili-Cruz at age eight. She rose to become soloist and principal dancer of the HCSB and the Quezon City Ballet. Like Anna, she is well-travelled as she attended international workshops and festivals.
Anna and Grace, outstanding protegees of Dr. Shirley, are associate artistic directors of HCSB. Said Dr. Shirley of them: “They are exceptional in their talents and are gems who excel in every thing they do as attested to by their awards and recognitions.Yet they have remained simple and humble.”
For being very passionate in her art, and for her high principles and integrity, Anna is well-loved by hundreds of dance students and their parents. And as a person and dance teacher, she has been described as naturally caring, generous and compassionate and that is why she has many friends.
By the way, Anna took up Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Asia and the Pacific (2003) where she also took up her Masters in Management. Anna has a CSTD Teaching Diploma in Classical Ballet.
Anna is like her mom, Ms. Shirley Halili-Cruz and her late dad, Eric Cruz, and brother Francis, who are workaholics, hardworking achievers and highly respected in their fields of endeavor. Their family is into arts, culture, construction, agriculture, shipping and information technology.
When she got married to Daryl Bueno in a beautiful church, they had a grand wedding reception in a beach, with all the guests staying with them for three days!
By the way, Anna marks another milestone, her birthday, on August 5!
