-
Birth
Eugene Louis Faccuito was born in Steubenville, Ohio as the eighth child in a family of 11 children. His parents were immigrants from Italy. -
Period: to
Luigi's Lifetime
-
Death of Eugene's Father
Eugene's father died in a car accident when he was five years old. To provide for his family a young Eugene began performing on street corners for spare change. After his older brother Tony taught him how to sing and dance, Eugene started entering and winning contests -
Eugene's First Job
At 10 years of age Eugene got his first agent and got a job as the "shadow" in Ted Lewis's famous number "Me and My Shadow." After that work, he went on to win many talent competitions, including the Major Bowes' The Original Amateur Hour, a prestigious event held in Pittsburgh, PA. -
Became Lead Singer of Bernie Davis Orchestra
At 13, Eugene Faccuito replaced the lead singer of the Bernie Davis Orchestra. He was soon touring as a dancer and singer on the vaudeville circuit. -
Drafted into the US Navy
At 18 years old, Eugene was drafted into the US Navy, putting his professional career on hold for three years due to World War II. -
Moved to Hollywood
Upon his return from service he decided to move to Hollywood on his G.I. Bill. There he studied ballet under Bronislava Nijinska. -
Car Accident
Three months after his move, Eugene was in a violent car accident where he was ejected from the vehicle, suffering a skull fracture. He was not expected to live, but he survived and was put in a coma for two months. -
Awoke from Coma
Eugene awoke from his coma, with paralysis in the right side of his body and the left side of his face. He was told that he would not walk again, let alone dance. He created a painstaking regimen of stretching, breathing and movement, and slowly relearned how to move his body. It took three years for him to relearn how to dance. His stretching technique lended itself perfectly to the jazz dance style he is now famous for innovating. -
Choreographed "Bandwagon" Tour
Hired by Horace Heidt to choreograph his "Bandwagon" tour. A year later he was discovered by a talent scout that led him to audition for "On the Town." There he was hired by Gene Kelly, his life long friend, who coined the nickname "Luigi." -
"Annie Get Your Gun"
Film Credits -
“An American in Paris”
Film Credits -
“The Band Wagon”
Film Credits -
"Happy Hunting"
Performed in Broadway Musical Comedy -
“Meet Me in Las Vegas”
Film Credits -
Opened Luigi's Jazz Center
Luigi opened his school, Luigi's Jazz Centre, in New York City. The stretching routine that Luigi created for his own rehabilitiation became the world's first technique for learning jazz dance. Luigi's style of dance embodied grace, elegance, free-flowing movement, and masculinity. He was the first person to systemize the teaching of jazz dance in this center Donna McKechnie, John Travolta, and Liza Minnelli are all celebrity students at his school. -
"Exorcism"
Choreographed short film called "Exorcism." Won Cine-Golden Eagle Award in the United States. -
Luigi's Jazz Dance Company
Luigi started his own jazz dance company that toured the world for two years. -
Publishing of Luigi's Book on Jazz
Luigi’s "Jazz Warm Up and Introduction to Jazz Style and Technique was published" -
Death
Luigi died at 90 years old from Cancer.
