Helena Greathouse -- BIO
Helena and Mark have
recently developed their own one-hour show which they are beginning to take on
tour around Oregon. First introduced at
the 2014 Portland Fertile Ground of New Works, it features humorous stories of their
early life history together, beginning in Hamburg, Germany, where they met as
foreign students from their respective countries (Helena from the former
Czechoslovakia and Mark from the U.S.)
The show, aptly titled “You Do Speak English, Don’t You?”, highlights
some of Mark’s original compositions which he plays on the accordion while Helena
sings.
From age seven throughout her childhood Helena
sang on the Czechoslovak National Radio and performed in musicals in principal
and leading roles on both the Czechoslovak National TV and live theater in her
native Czechoslovakia . Her dance teacher was a direct pupil of
Isadora Duncan. Later Helena studied
voice under professors of Prague Conservatory of Music and continues to do so
now whenever she is in Prague. She also
studies with a professional voice instructor when in the United States .
In teenage years Helena
turned to competitive sports, competing in Rhythmic Gymnastics for 12 years in Europe on the advanced level. That led to pursuing an international judging
career later in her life (including three World Championships, Pan Am, Goodwill
Games, and two Olympics). During her
competitive years in sports Helena
continued to sing as a soloist with a folklore group.
In her adult life, after receiving
a Master’s of Science degree in Statistics / Economics from the University of
Prague, School of Economics, Helena had a ‘normal’ job – first as Statistician
with the State of Oregon, later as Mathematician with Bonneville Power
Administration (a Federal Agency). Then
both she and her husband Mark took early retirement when it was offered, and
decided to do what they were doing as children – focusing on the arts.
After judging internationally for the U.S., Helena brought
her dance experience from Rhythmic Gymnastics to the arts, performing again on
stage and in films and forming a duo ‘The GREAT HOUSE of Music’ www.greathouseofmusic.com, with
her husband Mark. In 2010 Helena and
Mark made it to the Judges’ Round of America’s Got Talent (as one of the
400 acts which advanced from the 70,000 initial entries nationwide).
Since 2005 Helena sang, acted and danced in performances
with various Portland, Oregon, theatres. Helena and Mark, as a duo, also appeared
repeatedly as guest performers on several variety shows (Miz Kitty’s Parlour
Vaudeville Novelty Show, ScratchPDX, Performance Works NorthWest and Shadow
Vaudeville Variety Show). In 2008 Helena
and Mark represented the modern dance company tEEth in the Ten Tiny Dances
event.
