I was born and brought up in Kenya, East Africa. If anyone had told me, all those years ago that, “You are going to be an arts editor of a magazine in Mexico, Helen,” I would have laughed and said, “Impossible!”
I have been proven wrong, and now I, Helen Gallagher, have been asked by the editor-in-chief of El Ojo del Lago, Victoria Schmidt, to become the arts editor for the magazine. Knock me down with a feather!
Over the past many years, I have been closely associated with the arts, particularly the performing arts. I have been fortunate to visit museums, art galleries, and theaters all over the world throughout my life, beginning with the Cairo Museum and touring throughout Europe, Russia, the UK, Canada, all across the USA, and, finally, Mexico.
In England, I trained for four years in the performing arts, particularly ballet and dance of all kinds. I also studied acting, singing, and choreography. My training required passing all the requisite exams of the Royal Academy of Dance and The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance, which, in typical British fashion, had a tendency to knock the joy out of these delightful artistic pursuits.
However, when dire circumstances arose, I was ready to start my own theater school 45 miles north of New York City in the small town of Cornwall, New York. I also started The Hudson Valley Dance Theatre as a way to provide performance experience for my young students. The school’s proximity to New York City was a great advantage. Many former students went on to perform on Broadway or in regional ballet companies and universities throughout the US. After 25 years, I sold my school to one of my first students. I am happy to say the school is now in its 33rd year.
My husband, who is a visual artist, and I moved to the Lake Chapala region of Mexico in 2015. Thinking I had completely retired from teaching, acting, or any further artistic pursuits, I discovered that the Lakeside area is a hotbed of artists, actors, writers, directors, musicians, dancers, and theaters. Lakeside now has its very own Lake Chapala Symphony Orchestra. Many skilled and talented teachers are teaching the youngsters of this area in many art forms, “giving back” by making sure that even those who would otherwise never be able to afford to take dance or music lessons can now learn, love, and enjoy so many different performing arts.
I have already discovered that the theater community at Lakeside is a smorgasbord of different cultures and activities, rich in diversity. We are very fortunate to be able to experience such artistry that surrounds us in such a beautiful place.
I will do my best to share my artistic explorations with all the readers of this helpful magazine, El Ojo del Lago, and to let everyone know the who, what, where, and why of musical, dance, and theatrical performances, concerts, art exhibitions, murals, and plays.
For more information about Lake Chapala visit: www.chapala.com
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