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One
of the Fathers of American Jazz Dance Passed Away in Chicago
from Pneumonia.
March 10, 2008
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Gus Giordano, founder/director emeritus of the
critically acclaimed Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago,
author, legendary choreographer and one of the fathers
of American jazz dance passed away quietly in Chicago
on Sunday, March 9 from pneumonia. He was 84.
"Our father was a light for so many people in so many
ways in Chicago," say Nan and Amy Giordano, daughters
carrying on Giordano's legacy in the company and the
school. "His vision, creativity and passion for jazz
dance made a huge impact on dance communities,
students and audiences in Chicago and throughout the
world. All who knew him personally will deeply miss
the elegance and warmth of his presence, but it is now
our job to embrace the dreams he shared with his late
wife Peg and carry them forward to new and higher
levels."
August Thomas Giordano ("Gus") was born in St. Louis
in 1923 . During World War II, Giordano joined the
Marines, where he was assigned to a performing group
that put on shows at the Hollywood Canteen and at
military bases around the country. After college he
moved to New York with his wife Peg and performed in
the Broadway musical "Wish You Were Here," "Paint
Your Wagon," "On the Town" and several television
variety shows including the "Ed Sullivan Show."
In 1953, Gus Giordano moved back to Chicago and opened
his Evanston based dance school where he taught and
choreographed the Giordano technique. Giordano went
on to write about it in his the highly acclaimed
"Anthology of American Jazz Dance," the first book of
its kind was released 1975. Giordano organized the
first Jazz Dance World Congress in August 1990. This
event, co-sponsored by Northwestern University,
assembled jazz dance greats such as Luigi, Matt
Mattox, and Giordano and numerous jazz dance companies
for a week of master classes and performances. Now an
annual event, the Congress has been held at The
Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., at Northwestern
University and University at Buffalo, in Phoenix,
Chicago, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Costa Rica, and just
this past August was staged for the third time in
Chicago.
Gus Giordano was the recipient of the 1984 Dance
Educators of America Award for his "outstanding
contribution to the world of jazz dance." His numerous
honors included the 1988 Mayor's Award for the Arts
(Evanston, Ill.), the 1989 Governor's Award for the
Arts for exemplary individual artistic achievement,
the 1991 Dance Teacher Now "Circle Award" for lifetime
contributions to dance education, the 1993 Ruth Page
Lifetime Service to the Field Award (presented to Gus
and his late wife Peg); and in 1996 from the
University of Missouri the "Distinguished Alumni
Award" and the "William Francis English
Scholar-in-Residence Award." In 1985, Governor James
Thompson declared April 25 "Gus Giordano Day" in
appreciation of "his immense contribution to the
cultural environment of the State of Illinois." In
1995 he received the "Honorable Artist Award" from
Chukyo University in Nagoya, Japan. In 1997 Gus served
as National Spokesperson for National Dance Week. In
1999, Gus received the Third Annual Katherine Dunham
Award for "excellence and great contributions to the
Arts," and in 2003, Chicago's Mayor Daley presented
Gus with the Chicago Senior of the Year Award. In 2005
the National Dance Association presented Gus with its
Heritage Award, and the same year Gus received an
Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree from Shenandoah
University.
Giordano is survived by daughters Nan Giordano and
Amy Giordano, sons Patrick and Marc Giordano and eight
grandchildren.
Chicago. A Tribute to Gus Giordano is being planned as
part of the company's engagement at the Harris Theater
October 24 and 25, 2008.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the
Gus Giordano Memorial Fund. The fund will perpetuate
the dreams, plans and projects of Gus Giordano. All
contributions can be sent to: Gus Giordano Memorial
Fund, 614 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201.
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