[4] He moved to New York to study acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute after leaving California, living off of part-time modeling work.
[6] St. Jacques was a dance instructor at a disco before he was discovered by French designer Hubert de Givenchy to model his menswear line at the Waldorf-Astoria in April 1976.
[4] In June 1976, St. Jacques was photographed dancing with Jackie Kennedy Onassis at a benefit for the Special Olympics at the Pierre Hotel.
[14] St. Jacques and Cleveland were a popular dancing duo, drawing inspiration from Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to revive 1940s elegance.
[14] In 1976, St. Jacques and Cleveland appeared nude in the sexually explicit Broadway play Let My People Come, which was only shown at the Morosco Theater.
[12][14] During an intermission for the play in September 1976, St. Jacques was arrested on a third-degree larceny charge for allegedly stealing $1,000 worth of jewelry from his former girlfriend, Juliet Baruch.
[18] He was often photographed dancing with celebrities and socialites such as Bianca Jagger, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, and Caroline Kennedy.
[19][20] His social circle also included Studio 54 owner Steve Rubell, artist Andy Warhol, and fashion designer Halston who were regulars at the nightclub.
[21] Reportedly, St. Jacques's charming dance moves inspired the 1979 hit song "He's the Greatest Dancer" by Sister Sledge.