We were lucky to catch up with Helene Galek recently and have shared our conversation below.
Helene , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I can honestly say I don’t remember a time I didn’t want to perform but if I had to pinpoint a year, I would choose age 5. I was given ballet and tap lessons because my mother thought it would be nice for a little girl to have that training. Little did she know she created a monster! Well, a benign one. I took to it like a duck to water. Our end of the year recital took place in the evening on a large stage at the local high school, We had our moms do our makeup and help with costumes. When the cue came for my group to take the stage, we all got into our lines ready and excited to do the Bunny Ballet Dance complete with fuzzy ears, tail and a real carrot in hand. Confident in my steps, I could see out of the corner of my eye, that some kids froze or forgot steps and were looking at each other for a clue. I kept dancing the routine the way I was taught while looking straight at the audience and remembered to smile as well. No one ever told me about stage presence but it seemed like the most natural thing in the world and the enthusiastic applause rang happily in my ears. For our second number we were New Year’s babies complete with top hat and cane and tapped away to that golden oldie, “Steppin’ Out With My Baby.” I really enjoyed that routine and even added some sassiness. No stage fright here. It was simply “Hey, people are looking at me. I like that”! I was thrilled to be sharing my art with an entire audience who clapped away until we exited the stage. Thus, a life-long passion was born.. The “birth” was so instinctive and organic that I never questioned it.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I began acting in school plays and added singing along with my dancing in my camp shows, which were also done on a huge stage in the evening and run like the musical revues we know today. I had taken a break from dance in high school because I preferred to concentrate on acting where I could actually open my mouth! I was lucky that my progressive high school did not do the usual bland mainstream shows and that our teacher opened up our eyes to the many kinds of new genres coming up at that time. In college, I had to be content with having a theater minor along with my education degree but I took as many theatre classes as I could fit in. I picked up dance and singing again as I could see there were so many more musicals than straight plays. That was a wise decision as I enrolled in a professional theater school when I graduated and moved into the city. I came to the realization that as much as I wanted to do heavy, relevant drama, my personal essence and energy screamed musical theater. I actually got cast on my very first audition! During the next several decades, I had some highs like working with Maya Angelou and getting cast in a prestigious summer theater. There were also the lows of being too young and too old, simultaneously, seeing musical theater change gears etc. I pride myself in being open to new experiences and exploring them. Sketch comedy came around and so did improvisation and interactive theater. And performing in these areas, I got to be all the characters I’ve always wanted to play, complete with various accents and dialects. As the 21st century dawned, many new pathways were born such as indie film, web series and the beginning of a casting career. The latter came from me much like the first recital; it was organic and born out of my instinct for actors and their talent. I love working as a casting director and it has its own creativity and energy. I also love coaching actors in seminars and workshops. A decade ago, I was introduced to working with life coaching and doing mindset work and that made a huge difference in how I conducted my career and how I presented myself. The pandemic revived my writing passion, which was dormant for a long time and I began getting pieces published. I also had my first series on Amazon Prime, a comedy role that garnered a Best Supporting Actor award a few years before. I wrote two one act plays, one was produced at a festival this year and the other one will be adapted into a short film next year, which I will also produce and star in. I love working in all different areas as it not only fulfills a lifelong dream to pursue all my interests but is actually necessary to understand the business part of “show”. Yesterday’s “jack of all trades” is today’s multi-hyphenates and entrepreneurs. I also acknowledge and am grateful for the personal and professional relationships I have and the support that goes with that. The saying, “It takes a village” is very palpable here and I embrace it fully. And now to find time to fit in my watercolor painting as well!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Nowadays, I think the line between the so-called “creatives and so called “non-creatives” has considerably faded. I use the term “so-called” because creativity is needed and can be expressed in all other businesses as well, including raising a family. I know many businesses bring in actors to lead their employees in improvisational exercises that will strengthen their communication and listening skills. Years ago, it most likely boggled the minds of the non-creatives (who enjoyed a steady paycheck and knew what to expect from their job) to view the freelance world with all its temporary work, no promises and hit or miss income. But in the last decade or so, big chunks of the business world have been turned upside down and much of the safety nets are no longer there. The creatives can show them how to package their skills and look for new ways to use them while showing them how to pivot when it is necessary. And the creatives no longer have to hide their day job experiences as they now enhance the artist as a whole person as opposed to weakening them as artists. The acting world has changed drastically and I can see that my many years of sales and marketing experience has been beneficial for me in handling this new artist blueprint as I must think of myself as an entrepreneur and business owner and not just an actor. In essence, we can take a page from each other’s book and enhance whatever we do.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Society can start holding the same regard for the arts as they do for sports. Why can’t both of these be equally important? In my early days, I was very athletic as well as very graceful with dance. And I was fortunate to be able to embrace both for a satisfying foundation in my life. And therefore, supporting the arts on a national, state, and local level, beginning in pre-school is what is needed most. Sadly, we are behind the times in this area compared to other similar societies. Funding should be given to schools for classes, materials, outings and workshops in the disciplines of art, music, dance, drama etc and should not be looked at as an “extra” part of the curriculum. Include the parents as well in these activities so it will be a shared experience. I always think of that quote from the film, “Mr Holland’s Opus” when Mr Holland learned that the drama and music department were being eliminated in budget cuts because reading and writing were considered more important. He responded, “Keep cutting out the arts and pretty soon, the kids will have nothing to read or write about”. The national funding support could also lower the price of many events so that they are not just for tourists and the affluent. It makes for a richer life to embrace the arts and it is needed by everyone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.helenegalek.org
