Riley Schillaci: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 13:32, 12 April 2010
Riley Schillaci | |
|---|---|
| Born | Riley-Ann Schillaci December 22, 1982 |
| Nationality |  American |
| Occupation(s) | Performance Artist, Sword Swallower, Fire Breather, Burlesque Artist. |
| Website | RileySchillaci . com |
Riley Schillaci (born December 22, 1982) is recognized internationally as one of the few Female Sword Swallowers in the world. She has appeared in local publications, news broadcasts, opened for international bands, and appeared at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Niagara Falls.
Riley's other skills also include: Fire Eating, Fire Breathing, Human Pincushion, Human Blockhead, Bed of Nails, and Burlesque.
Biography
Early life
Schillaci was born in Rochester, New York on December 22, 1982 to Michael Schillaci and Deborah Schillaci (Healy). She is third generation Sicilian on her father’s side. Her mother’s family is of Irish, German, and English descent.
Schillaci's first brush with fame came as an infant, when in 1983 she became a "Kodak Baby", one of 13 infants pictured in a panoramic photo, taken by photographer Sam Campanaro which was used in Kodak advertisements world wide. The photograph was also used on the cover of “Photographing Your Baby” by Eastman Kodak Co. Editors (1984). Three more versions of the photograph were taken of the children at various ages.
Shillaci is one of less than a few dozen actively performing professional sword swallowers alive performing around the world today, with less than 20 women practitioners of the art.
Educational Background
Graduated Webster Schroeder High School in 2001, with a New York State regents diploma.
Received an Associates Degree, in Liberal Arts, from Monroe Community College, in 2004
Graduated from the State University of New York College at Brockport, in 2006, with a double major in sociology, and health science.
Performance career
Schillaci had opened for musical acts such as, Type O Negative, and My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, and performs at private and public events. In 2009 Schillaci was chosen to represent Sword Swallowers Association International at Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Niagara Falls, in honor of International Sword Swallower Awareness Day.
Appearances
Television Appearances
- 13 WHAM "Morning Show" by Norma Holland (2008)
- R NEWS "Her Hobby's Hard To Swallow" by Seth Voorhees (2008)
Print Appearances
- Messenger Post"Hard to Swallow” Uthe, Tori (November, 2007)
- ACT : LIVE [1]" Deep Throats: Running With Swords" Niche, James (July, 2008)
- Insider, "What’s The Point?"Smith, Troy (March, 2008)
Trivia
Schillaci is also an amateur musician and writer. She plays guitar, is classically trained in vocals, and also play trumpet.
She traveled to Vietnam for 2 months, while studying for her Bachelors Degree at SUNY Brockport. Here she worked with children affected by agent orange, the elderly, as well as taught conversational English to adults.
Schillaci has turned down two offers to appear on the Jerry Springer Show’s, To Hot For T.V. special, because they wanted her to appear completely topless.
References
- Holland, Norma. 13WHAM News. Broadcast on June, 2008.
- Meyer, Dan. Sword Swallower's Association International.[2] Accessed on August 17, 2008.
- Niche, James. ACT : LIVE'. Accessed on August 20, 2008.
- Schillaci, Riley. Riley Schillaci. com. Accessed on August 17, 2008.
- Smith, Troy. Insider. What's The Point?, March 7, 2008.
- Uthe, Tori. Messenger Post "Hard to Swallow". November 14, 2007.
- Voorhees, Seth. R NEWS. Broadcast on February 12, 2008.