About

Monica Villarica Cusi

School Director

Monica Villarica Cusi, VIDA School Director

She began dancing Classical Ballet at the age of 2 under the direction of her grandmother, Fe Sala Villarica. There she was taught by Fe Sala Villarica herself along with Baby Cabaero, Johanna Mangubat, and Nicholas Pacaña. She was a member of the school’s Children’s Dance Theater and eventually performed with Cebu’s Queen City Chamber Ballet.

In 2004, she joined her first CCP Summer Dance Workshop in Manila on partial scholarship. Along with intensive training in Classical Ballet, she was also exposed to Modern Dance. This experience opened her eyes to the world of professional dance and inspired her to continue spending her summers with CCP Dance School on full scholarship until 2006.

While studying in De La Salle University, she joined the La Salle Dance Company under Peter Alcedo, Jr. in 2008 where she trained in Jazz and Contemporary dance. After graduating university, she returned to CCP Dance School and received a company scholarship while working as the school’s Registrar.

In 2013, she was given an apprenticeship with Ballet Philippines and performed with the company in many notable performances. Among the numerous productions she performed with them were Alice Reyes’ “Rama Hari”, Edna Vida’s “A Christmas Carol”, Agnes Locsin’s “La Revolucion Filipina” a pas de deux with Mark Grantos choreographed by Rita Winder for the Ballet Philippines II production, “Hugot Sa Rosas”, and as Cinderella in the school’s performance of “Cinderella”.

She was also a faculty member of the company’s training arm, Ballet Philippines Dance School, and has attended seminars on teaching Play Ballet and Pre-National Ballet Syllabus by Regina Vallejos as well as an introduction to the American Ballet Theater curriculum by Edna Vida.

In 2015, she wanted to deepen her knowledge for dance and professional life so she went to New York and studied with The Ailey School where she took an Independent Study Program. Here she trained intensively in Classical Ballet and in Modern dance techniques, Horton and Graham. She also took electives on Dunham technique, Hiphop, Body Conditioning for Dance, West African Dance, and Strength Training.

She is a graduate of the Composition and Movement Analysis Program (CMAP) and a member of the World Dance Alliance. She believes that learning never stops and continues to enrich and educate herself so she can continue to offer quality dance education to her students.