World-class dance achiever Anna Halili-Cruz Bueno has been rightfully described as a visionary and dedicated dance director, something she showcased in her various posts — as dance teacher, choreographer, costume designer and school manager/administrator — at the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet (HCSB).
Her partner and teammate, Grace Garalde Perez, is also a visionary and dedicated dance educator like Anna, and they share responsibilities as associate artistic directors of HCSB, Halili-Cruz School of Dance and Halili-Cruz Conservatory. And as such, they have been equally acclaimed as achievers in their own rights, like Dr. Shirley Halili-Cruz, the founder and artistic director of HCSB.
Both Anna and Grace grew under the personal tutelage of Dr. Shirley Halili-Cruz.
Anna is a world-class achiever who has received numerous awards, including the Bisig Kabataan Youth Advocate & Leadership Award, Global Excellence Award in the Performing Arts, Parangal ng Bayan Award, Gold Medalist, American Academy of Ballet, New York, 2017 Netizens Choice Modern Day Renaissance Woman, and 2017 Outstanding Achiever as Administrative Director.
Anna finished Bachelor of Science in Business Management at the University of Asia (2003) and the Pacific where she also took up her Masters Degree (2004). She certainly took after her parents, Shirley Halili-Cruz and the late Eric Cruz, in being hardworking achievers, disciplined and highly respected in their fields of endeavor. The Halili-Cruz family, including Anna’s brother Francis, is involved in arts, culture, construction, agriculture, shipping, and information technology.
About Grace, she is a Journalism graduate but her passion for the arts, especially dance, won over her academic skills. She started her dance training when she was 8, and became the soloist and principal dancer of HCSB and the Quezon City Ballet.
Both Anna and Grace are multi-awarded and well-traveled. They attended international workshops and festivals.
Anna was married to Daryl Bueno in a beautiful church, and they held their grand wedding reception on a beach where their families and all their guests stayed in for three days.
By the way, Anna celebrates another milestone, her birth anniversary, on Aug. 5.