Dancing, With No Limits: An Interview With B-Boy Lazylegz

Luca “LazyLegz” Patuelli is a b-boy dancer, choreographer, educator and speaker based in Montreal, Canada. Luca has garnered worldwide recognition for his unique dance style incorporating his crutches and arm strength. He is the creator and current manager of ILL-Abilities, an international breakdance crew of seven dancers with different disabilities from around the world. He also co-founded RAD Movement formally known as Projet RAD, Canada’s first inclusive satellite studio dance program open to people of all ages and abi lities.

Since 2018, in Les Grands Ballets’ studios, Luca has been teaching the Creative Dance with Lazylegz – Physical Handicaps class.

What does dance mean to you?

Dance to me is the ultimate form of self-expression. I believe dance is one of the few activities in this world that can bring people of ALL backgrounds, ALL ages, and ALL abilities together in the same room, withoutjudgment. When dancing, we experience that rare moment when we are truly focused on the present moment and nothing else. It’s a celebration of life!

Can you share some of your proudest moments with us?

I am proud of every moment I get to experience when I dance. Whether it is a large or small audience, I treat every performance as if it was my last one. In terms of career accomplishments, I have a lot to be proud of, but I feel like I still have a lot left to accomplish.

Just to name a few of my proudest moments: opening the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games; being selected as Lead Dancer in Orphee, a French production that toured around Europe; creating and managing the ILL-Abilities crew; touring over 35 countries; and, last but not least, teaching my passion for dance to younger generations of students around the world.

Which challenges have you encountered?

I think that, when dance becomes your profession, you face the constant challenge of wanting to elevate your craft while coping with aging and with the injuries that come with the job, in addition to the stress of staying relevant in a very competitive field. It’s these challenges that give many of us the “fire” that keeps us going.

On a personal note, I’ve broken my leg in my first dance battle, I’ve gotten several concussions, and I have sprained every single one of my joints at one point of my career. Whenever I am recovering from an injury, I use the time to see how I can move differently and continue to create while listening to my body.

I truly believe that “Everyone Can Dance” and it’s really the slightest movement that makes the greatest difference in your performance. Dance is energy! Despiteall the challenges, there is always an opportunity to continue to build, no matter where you are in your career.

Where would you like to see dance in the coming years?

I do believe that, since I first started dancing in 2002 (18 years ago), dance has acquired a larger role in our society. Personally, I would like dance to be part of school activities and office/work moments. I know some schools have already started offering it as an activity and some offices offer lunchtime movement activities but I believe that if it becamepart of everyone’s day-to-day life, we would live in a more harmonious society!

I would also like to see dance continue to become more inclusive, which in turn will help make our society more organically inclusive. Organically inclusive for me means that the society actively participates in bringing people together, honestly and without obligations. By pressuring society to be inclusive, we will never succeed in being an inclusive society because people will not actively participate on their own, as it will not come from a sincere place. In order to achieve fundamental humanity in this world, we need to be open and be accepting of everyone for who they are, take the time to learn from each other and take pride in each of our differences. It’s the differences between each of us that will make us stronger.

What advice would you give to a young dancer starting out their career and not conforming to the field standards?

Don’t give up and take criticism constructively, not personally. Take the time to rediscover your passion, meaning don’t be afraid to take a step back when you need to reconnect with yourself.