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Interview with John Vincent Leggio

Jennifer San Miguel

Oct 28, 2024

Back to Broadway

When you think of “Broadway” you likely think of the great musicals and amazing dance scenes. You may even know a few productions by heart, and you may or may not know that John Vincent Leggio is one of those dancers who made the production of CATS and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat so mesmerizing and memorable. 


We know that the insight into what successful dancers do and did to achieve success for themselves and others is what you all want to know, so we asked John a few things that we hope will help you on your journey. 


John has had an amazing career as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Most recently he has traveled internationally to teach master classes in Brazil and Tokyo. When not traveling abroad, John can be found in NYC teaching at Steps on Broadway (I took his jazz class and it was like home to me) his bio can be found here: Jazz Faculty Bio | John Vincent Leggio | Steps on Broadway (stepsnyc.com). I highly recommend taking advantage of any opportunity to take his class.


John started his dance journey as a teenager. “I decided dance was my love when I saw my first Broadway show in NYC at the age of 16. It was CATS, the original production in 1982. It was at that moment I set my goals and CATS was my dream show. I wasn’t allowed to dance as a young adult, but I was a gymnast and singer. When I started taking dance class, it came easy to me for the most part. I was a natural mover with lots of rhythm. After seeing CATS in 1982, it took me 6 years before I was offered the role of Mungojerrie on the CATS Broadway tour. I spent a little over a year on tour and was asked to join the Broadway company in 1989. I danced in the show for a total of 4 years on Broadway.” 


We love NY and it may be obvious to performers why the lure of the city called John back after many years spent living away in Florida, but we asked anyway. He said “after performing for many years on Broadway, I decided to take a short break and try my hand at directing and choreographing. I moved to Florida and began getting work as a choreographer. I became the Artistic Director and Choreographer for a theater in Florida for three years. I was offered the opportunity to open a performing arts school of my own. A local family gave me the start up cost to get started. This was not a dream of mine. I never thought I’d teach dance. My school was a success and for 12 years I raised up talent that went on to perform on Broadway, television, movies and theaters around the country. I saw the revival of Pippin in 2014. It changed my life the way CATS first did. I had to go back. I missed it and I wasn't finished performing. Now that I was an educator and choreographer I wanted to be successful in this area as well. So far so good, but so many more dreams to fulfill.” 


How does he sustain such a long dance career especially as a performer? We asked a few questions that we think answer this question: 


Q: What is your normal dancer health daily routine (i.e. meditation/stretching/supplements/gym/etc.)?

A: Morning meditation-coffee-gym, healthy breakfast (usually egg whites and a fruit shake and class! I always stretch at least a half hour before my own class, eat a healthy meal after class, and then rest.


Q: How many hours do you spend dancing/stretching/exercising each week?

A: 20-30 hours


Q: What is the best thing that you do for yourself every day or at least every week?

A: I would say dance or workout. I struggle each day in NYC with the same battles so many artists struggle with: surviving and thriving. It weighs on me at times. It can be depressing at times, but dance and working out always brings me peace and gets me back to taking care of myself and also focusing on others.


Q: What is your typical day like? What activities do you do, how many people do you engage with, how do you begin/end the day?*

A: Most of what I mentioned above. Working on my career in some form. Looking for new songs to create to, seeking out opportunities to share my talent as an educator/ performer/ choreographer. I love to be in the sun as often as possible. My favorite thing to do in NYC is ride my bike. I ride along the Hudson River or through Central Park as often as I can. My partner is working regularly in Miami so I generally enjoy spending time alone. It’s important for me to stay positive and focused on my physical and mental health.


Definitely disciplined, active and health-conscious answers. Much what I expected from a professional dancer. I asked a question that I pretty much knew the answer to already: how do you feel when you miss a day, two or three out of your normal dance routine? His response is similar to my own: “I never miss a day of some sort of physical activity. Total rest is not healthy for my body, mind and spirit.” I always say that a body in motion stays in motion. 


We are so blessed as dancers to be able to do what we love. Being a dancer is not just being able to execute steps, it requires a lifestyle of discipline, dedication, mental stamina, positive attitude, humbleness, self-reflection and perseverance that is difficult for many to establish on their own, which is why dancers inspire others to be better versions of themselves. We all have had mentors who instilled in us the awe and inspiration that fed our dreams and the attention and support that made the dream a possibility. John’s mentor “was/is my first dance teacher, Denise Webb. It was a short amount of time but her passion, her style and friendship gave me that first introduction to dance and hard work.” When asked who inspired his art, he answered “Baryshnikov, Liza Minnelli, Barbara Streisand, and all the great dance movies of the 80’s. FAME, Flashdance, Footloose, and many more!” 


Of course he’s a mentor himself, having developed dancers that went on to become professionals themselves, we know he must give out some good advice. We wanted to share that with you, so we asked: “How many people do you feel that you are a mentor to now, and what is the biggest thing that you try to instill in them?” And we loved his answer: “So many!! It’s so important to me. Actually the most important to me. I will be physically gone one day but it’s important that I live on, pass along my experiences, my stories, my passion for the arts. I mentor anyone who is interested and willing to dance with me on a regular basis. If they believe in me, I will give my heart to them.” A dance legacy is definitely something inherent to the artform. I hope that this article and the #DanceLifeBetterLife movement supports all dancers in their pursuit of following their dreams and that we all read this interview and try to be the best version of ourselves and share the joy of dance with others to make the world a better place.


It is not the location of the production that makes it amazing, it is the energy of the artists, audience, and production staff that truly create and define an experience. John is an inspiration, motivator, and great example of how to become mesmerizing and memorable. 


So, what is in John Leggio’s dance bag besides shoes? He says it’s “really not that much. A rolling ball for feet, extra clothes to change into after class, cologne, sanitizer.” 


Follow John Leggio on Instagram @jlchoreo



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