[citation needed] Faccuito developed the technique, which consists of a series of ballet-based exercises, for his rehabilitation after suffering paralyzing injuries in a car accident at the age of 21.
[3][4] Born in Steubenville, Ohio, Luigi is the eighth of eleven children of immigrant Italian parents, Nicola and Antoinette (Savoia) Faccuito.
His older brother Tony taught him to sing, dance, and use contortionist skills so he could enter local talent contests to win prize money for the family.
[citation needed] At thirteen, Luigi replaced Dean Martin, his neighbor, in the Bernie Davis Orchestra, a local twelve-man band that performed at weddings, school dances, and special events throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.
[citation needed] He moved to California, enrolled in his first ballet classes with Bronislava Nijinska, and studied other theatrical forms at Falcon Studios in Hollywood.
[citation needed] In 1949, a talent scout discovered Luigi in a benefit show and brought him to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios to audition for On the Town.
[8] Between films, Luigi also performed in professional musicals at the Greek Theatre and with the Moro Landis Dancers, mostly at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas.
[citation needed] In 1956, choreographer Alex Romero brought Luigi to New York City to perform on Broadway with Ethel Merman and Fernando Lamas in Happy Hunting.
He was invited to work in many more European countries including, England, Italy and France; began teaching master classes at the Radio City Music Hall for the performers; and joined the faculty of the Harkness Ballet School.
He received the "Fred Astaire Award from the Theatre Development Fund, a proclamation for "Luigi Day in New York City" from Mayor Ed Koch, was the grand marshal of the Dance Parade on Broadway in 2008, and an Ohio governor[who?]
[citation needed] In 2013 Luigi was honored by Antonio Fini with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Italian International Dance Festival.