Our Aussie correspondant Sam S. was so fortunate to track down dancer Helena Andreyeko and we are
so proud to bring you her interview here at Grease2.net Thanks for all your input Helena !

This 'Grease 2 Star Interview' may not be reproduced for use on any other website or entity.

Was there a special moment during the filming of Grease 2 that sticks out in your mind?

What I remember most is that filming both of the Grease movies was the most fun working I have ever had in my life.  We were paid to have as great a time as possible every day doing all the fun things we wanted to do in high school, without all of the awful studying and work.  It was just a blast.

Another thing I remember strongly is the long hours that are required on filming days.  Every so often, on particularly grueling days when we were shooting scenes with lots of dancers and extras, I would look around while we were waiting for the crew to set up a shot and laugh at the sea of completely exhausted dancers sprawled out catching a little nap anywhere and everywhere they could on the set.   It looked like a dance battlefield with bodies lying everywhere.  Luckily they were all alive and well, and the second we knew that the shot was getting close we would all pop up and begin warming up to get ourselves ready.  We were all just about high school age, so a short cat nap was just the thing to perk us right up and get us into the spirit. 

Was there anyone from the film that this shoot created a special bond with?  If so, who and do you still hang out with them?

After I finished the movies I continued working with Patricia Birch as her assistant for many years.  We had a great working relationship and I got to work on many terrific projects with some of the best talents in the business. 

All of the dancers got along great on both of the movies.  We formed a very close bond and worked very well together, and pockets of us have stayed in touch throughout the years.  I think all of us have tried to keep up with knowing how the rest of dancers are doing and what they are up to these days.  Working very closely with a group of people day in and day out for twelve to fourteen hour days, can either bring people together or bring out their worst.  In our case, in brought us all together.  I always felt we operated like a big family and it was so hard to leave when the filming ended.  I think a big part of that was working with Patrica Birch, who always manages to bring out people’s best talents and allows performers a lot of leeway in using their creativity.  It gives the performers a feeling that they have really contributed to the creative process and keeps everyone feeling very excited about the work they are doing.  That excitement was contagious, kept us all happy and made the working environment very positive and a lot of fun.

What have you been up to since Grease 2?

In my early 30's I decided that I wanted to get a college degree and started taking classes at Hunter College.  Not knowing what I actually wanted to take, I began taking courses that I liked, which were all in science.  I loved them and continued, and eventually got a master’s degree in biology from the City University of New York.  Biology is almost as much fun as dancing, just different. 

My life now is very different.  I work for a science foundation and spend most of my time in front of a computer.  I’ve never quite gotten used to working in an office, but it has its rewards.  I still love dancing and go out whenever I can.  I’m a big disco fan and also take swing classes and especially like the New York Swing Dance Society events.

Webmaster Notes:
Thank you Helena for all your hard work in helping make www.Grease2.net a success!
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