Trending
Eugene “Luigi” Faccuito 90, of Manhattan, New York formerly of Steubenville, died April 7, 2015, at his home.
He was born March 20, 1925, in Steubenville. He is the son of the late Nicola and Antoinette Savoia Faccuito.
Luigi also is preceded in death by his brothers, James, Dan, Tony, and Primo Faccuito and his sisters, Frances DiBiase and Helen Fornsaglio.
Surviving are his sister, Norma Battista of Weirton. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews along with many friends, students, and admirers from around the world.
Eugene was a Catholic and served his country in the US Navy during World War II.
Eugene “Luigi” was an American jazz dancer, choreographer, teacher, and innovator who is best known for creating a jazz exercise technique. The Luigi Warm Up Technique is an influential training program that promotes body alignment, balance, core strength, and “feeling from the inside.” It is also used for rehabilitation. This method became the world’s first standard technique for teaching jazz and musical theater dance. He used this for his own rehabilitation after suffering paralyzing injuries in a car accident at the age of 21.
Eugene received his nickname “Luigi” from Gene Kelly while the two were working on “On the Town.” Kelly, who was not only a star but also co-director, started calling Faccuito “Luigi” because he found the presence of two people on the set named Gene disconcerting.
He taught his technique for five decades at Luigi’s Jazz Centre in New York (currently on 68th Street), and spread throughout the world by an army of proteges. John Travolta studied with him. So did Susan Stroman, Robert Morse, Liza Minnelli, Twyla Tharp, and the late Michael Bennett, creator of “A Chorus Line” – who gave a nod to the master in the “5, 6, 7, 8!” count-off at the show’s big dance routines. That was a Faccuito trademark which is now used universally at the start of dance routines. His motto was “Never stop moving”
Friends are invited to Holy Rosary Catholic Church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass at 11 am, Fr. Thomas Nau, celebrant. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
Offer condolences, www.mostifuneralhome. com.