Two young and upcoming ballerinas brought home a total of seven gold medals at the recently concluded Youth Educational Friendship Festival Dance Competition in Da Nang, Vietnam.
At just six years old, Anne Gelise Caling Pedron, also known as Gelly, has achieved remarkable success in ballet, winning four gold medals for her performances in various categories: Candide Fairy Classical Ballet Solo, Lilac Fairy Classical Ballet Solo, Contemporary Ballet Solo, and Modern Ballet Solo.
Gelly discovered her passion for dance at the age of four and began competing at five, consistently earning top honors in competitions. Her early achievements highlight both her talent and dedication to the art of ballet from a very young age.
Vera Katrina De Silva Cruz, 9, has also accomplished notable achievements in ballet, securing three gold medals for her performances in Silver Fairy Classical Ballet Solo, Sugar Plum Fairy Classical Ballet Solo, and Modern Ballet Solo. Starting her dance journey at eight years old, Vera has swiftly garnered awards and scholarships from numerous ballet competitions at home and abroad. In April, she was granted a scholarship to Malaysia, underscoring her exceptional talent and rapid ascent in the ballet community.
The two young dancers are set to compete again at the International Youth Performing Arts Championship in Malaysia this December.
Both students have been diligently trained under the guidance of Artistic Director Ana Emata and Co-Director Danielle Emata Oris at the Ana Emata School of Classical Ballet (AESCB), established in 1995.
The renowned ballet school holds the distinction of being the first Filipino ballet institution to perform at the Hong Kong Disneyland Parade. Under Ana Emata’s leadership, AESCB students have graced prestigious theaters in the metro area, participated in study tours to Indonesia, Australia, and New York, and achieved numerous accolades in various international and local dance competitions.
The school’s impressive list of achievements includes wins at the Philippine Dance Cup, ABAP International Dance Competition, International Ballet Grand Prix, International Youth Performing Arts Championship in Malaysia, World Ballet Competition USA, World Ballet Art Competition Grand Prix in Taiwan and Canada, Asia-Pacific Dance Competition in Singapore, Asian Grand Prix in Hong Kong, and the Dance Competition in Australia, among others.
AESCB meticulously selects and prepares its students each year for both local and international competitions, ensuring they undergo rigorous weekly training to attain success in the highly competitive world of ballet.
