Beloved Broadway Choreographer Eugene 'Luigi' Louis Facciuto Dies at 90

One of Broadway's most beloved choreographers and dance teachers, Eugene 'Luigi' Louis Facciuto, has died at 90 years old.

The news was confirmed by BROADWAY: THE GOLDEN AGE FILM TRILOGY director/producer Rick McKay to BroadwayWorld. Luigi will be honored in the upcoming film, set for release sometime in 2016.

Luigi's students have included Liza Minnelli, Kelly Bishop, Ben Vereen, Tony Roberts, Susan Stroman, and most of Broadway brightest luminaries in recent decades.

Throughout his career, Luigi drew enormous praise from his all-star pupils, including Minnelli, who once said: "I found Luigi to be an invaluable teacher and his technique has stayed with me." Robert Morse also remembered: "Luigi is stylish, graceful, aristocratic, constant, permanent, visionary and so very kind to us all who are beginners daily.

He was born Eugene Louis Faccuito in Steubenville, Ohio and nicknamed Luigi from Gene Kelly. As a dancer he appeared in over 40 films including An American in Paris, Annie Get Your Gun, On the Town, Singin' in the Rain, The Band Wagon and White Christmas. The exercise routine he created for his own rehabilitation after a devastating accident became the world's first complete technique for learning jazz dance.

In rememberance of Luigi, McKay debuted the full extended chapter from BROADWAY: BEYOND THE GOLDEN AGE, which chronicles the famed jazz dance teacher's life. You can view the director's cut of the chapter below.

For more information on BROADWAY: THE GOLDEN AGE FILM TRILOGY, click here and to make a 100% tax free donation to help the film get made, click here.

Photo by Walter McBride