The Luigi Technique
Film and stage dancer Eugene Louis Facciuto ("Luigi"), created the first codified jazz dance technique in order to help himself recover from debilitating injuries suffered in a car accident. His exercises became popular among his colleagues on film sets and backstage, and Luigi soon turned to teaching full time.
Luigi taught and refined his technique for decades, in New York and all over the world. Among his students were Susan Stroman, Maria Calegari, Loretta Abbot, Ben Vereen, and Twyla Tharp.
The technique is a rigorous yet gentle series of exercises that builds precision, control, musicality, and grace. As Bob Fosse noted, "A Luigi trained dancer is always dedicated and well-trained." Any serious student of dance should be familiar with the Luigi technique.
Today, his legacy lives on in the work of his protege, Francis Roach, as well as that of the many Luigi teachers across the globe who studied with Luigi and with Francis.
Luigi taught and refined his technique for decades, in New York and all over the world. Among his students were Susan Stroman, Maria Calegari, Loretta Abbot, Ben Vereen, and Twyla Tharp.
The technique is a rigorous yet gentle series of exercises that builds precision, control, musicality, and grace. As Bob Fosse noted, "A Luigi trained dancer is always dedicated and well-trained." Any serious student of dance should be familiar with the Luigi technique.
Today, his legacy lives on in the work of his protege, Francis Roach, as well as that of the many Luigi teachers across the globe who studied with Luigi and with Francis.
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About me:I arrived in New York City after high school, with very little dance technique. Through studying with brilliant teachers, I was able to work consistently as a dancer in a highly competitive world. Performance credits include film, music video, Off-Broadway, and freelance work with modern dance companies in NYC venues such as Lincoln Center and the Joyce Theater.
Among those brilliant teachers was Luigi himself. I was fortunate to have studied directly with him, as well as with his protege, Francis Roach, and with Luigi teacher Kathryn Edgett. After a long hiatus from dance, the Luigi technique helped me return to teaching, choreography and performing. I continue to study with Francis Roach through his amazing teachers' intensives. I have taught the Luigi technique to beginner through professional level dancers In New Mexico, and ballet and jazz to teens in New Jersey and Nova Scotia. My approach to teaching is also informed by extensive work in the Alexander technique, an experiential knowledge of injury prevention and recovery, as well as a choreographic eye attuned to nuance and alert to artistry. My choreography has been presented internationally, to critical acclaim. |
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