Riley Schillaci
Riley Schillaci [1] is a sword swallower & fire breather hailing from Rochester NY. Born on December 22, 1982 to Michael Schillaci and Deborah Schillaci (Healy). She is third generationSicilian on her father’s side, and she is a distant relative of the Italian [futball] player, Salvatore “Toto” Schillaci, whom she has never met. 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 which was used in Kodak advertisements world wide. Today this panorama is a common picture at pediatrician and OBGYN offices.
Schillaci grew up in Webster/Penfield NY, and as a child was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, something she has always spoken very candidely about. She displayed strong artistic and creative abilities at an early age, producing poetry and short stories that won her awards, and astounded teachers, family, and peers. Her musical abilities ranged from playing the trumpet, being part of the elite Nazareth Children’s Choir, and learning the play the guitar as a teen. She began drawing at the age of twelve, and majored in art and technology in high school. Her artistic endeavors continue into adulthood. Schillaci has been classically trained in vocals, and continues to write music, poetry and short stories, as well as producing mixed media, water color, and acrylic paintings.
After graduating from Webster Schroeder High School, Schillaci pursued a degree in graphic communicationfrom Monroe Community College, eventually changing majors and graduating from SUNY Brockport with a double major in Health Science, and Sociology.
After seeing a relative swallow kitchen utensils, Schillaci first attempted the feat when she was fourteen years old, and succeeded. She practiced and trained for eight years until finally attempting a real sword at the age of 24. Since then she has learned the art of fire breathing, and the human block head. Only a few dozen sword swallowers are known to exist world wide, only a small handful being women. Riley Schillaci is a member of Sword Swallowers Association International[2], which was founded by Dan Meyer, to network the few sword swallowers world wide.
Schillaci had opened for musical acts such as, Type O Negative, and My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, and has appeared on local television broadcasts, R News[3] & WHAM 13 News[4]. In November 2007, she appeared on the from page of the Messenger Post[5], and in March 2008 she grace the cover of Insider Magazine[6].
It is rumored that at one point Riley Schillaci was met with accusations by a small group of religious fundamentalist, who mistaking her pentacle ring for a Satanic symbol, claimed that she had sold her soul to Satan, in exchange for the ability to perform the physical feat of sword swallowing. Shillaci denied these allegations, stating that she does not believe in Satan, and if she did, she would have no dealings with him. This story can neither be confirmed nor denied.
Schillaci continues to build her career, performing independantly as well as in a burlesque troupe. Burlesque has given her the ability too expand her performances, and skills, as well as gain a wider following.