Dancing to his Own Beat Meet Lazylegz A Man who's Anything but

From Exceptional Family Vol. 2 No. 2 Winter 2006

Feature Story by Alessandro Nicolo

If Luca Patuelli was supposed to let life pass him by, someone better clue him in, in a hurry. Born with a physical disability that could have negatively impacted his life, the 22-year-old international break-dance star instead chose to confront it head-on by developing the very appendages that might otherwise have been considered limitations.

Luca was diagnosed with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), a rare congenital disorder that is characterized by reduced mobility of many joints in the body including the arms and legs. While the cause of AMC is unknown, the disorder is neither genetic nor degenerative.

Fortunately for Luca, AMC affects the mobility in his legs exclusively. While he is able to walk with the aid of crutches, he dreams of a time when he will no longer need them. "In 1995, I vowed that one day I would walk without crutches," he says. "For now, I can't really walk without them. As for wheelchairs, I only use them after surgeries. I don't like getting pushed around ­ wheelchairs are not only physically uncomfortable, I also value my independence and being able to move around on my own."

Yet more than just "moving around" in the walking sense, Luca has carved a niche out of "moving around" as a world-renowned break-dancer , an activity he became interested in at the age of 15, after numerous surgeries relating to AMC left him unable to continue skateboarding. "A friend of mine who was a break-dancer introduced me to the art. I fell in love with it right away. I honed my skills by practicing during lunch at school and watching break-dancing videos."

Today, Luca, who goes by the stage name Lazylegz (loosely-based on a famous 80s break-dancer named Crazylegs), frequently competes in worldwide break-dance competitions as part of an eight-man Montreal dance group called Illmatic Styles. With the help of his crutches, he has been known to perform some pretty draw-dropping moves. "We've done pretty well," says Luca, who is the only member of the crew with a physical disability. "Illmatic Styles finished fourth at the World Finals in Los Angeles last summer."

A native Montrealer, Luca is in his third year in Marketing at Concordia University and hopes to incorporate his studies into a future break-dancing career. "I like to organize events. I recently assembled a Montreal group for a [break-dancing] competition in Chicago, where we finished in the top eight. I enjoy dealing with event sponsors and it's a dream of mine to make a name for myself in the break-dancing world," says Luca.

If a recent appearance on NBC¹s Today Show were any indication, it would appear that Luca¹s dream has already become a reality. "I put out a video of my performance on YouTube and people [in the media] noticed it. That¹s how I was discovered. Besides NBC, a documentary crew from South Korea came to Montreal last February and followed me around for two days. They filmed me working-out and dancing and interviewed my friends and family. It aired in South Korea. It was funny because I didn't understand anything they said about me on the show!" laughs Luca.

* One may indeed be surprised that break-dancing, which is a subset of hip-hop culture, remains a vibrant underground community. According to Luca, while the New York "Rock Steady Crew" popularized break-dancing in the late 70s and early 80s, it is still extremely popular in Europe, Asia and the U.S.


* A website where people post and watch original home-made videos.


Back home, the popular Much Music channel also recently featured Luca as part of their weeklong documentary series called ŒMusic is my Life¹. "Much Music followed me around at various events, including the World Battles in Los Angeles last summer. The cast met my family and it was pretty cool." Of all the shows that formed part of the ŒMusic is my Life¹ series, the one featuring Luca garnered the highest ratings of all - something he attributes to a couple of factors: "It helped that I had put my video out on the Internet so people recognized me and probably tuned in, including many of my friends. The editing process of the show was also eye-catching."

While Luca is certainly thrilled with the increased attention, he is quick to point out that success does not come without persistence and dedication. "Gaining recognition didn't come all that quickly," he said. "It's taken me six or seven years to reach the point where people are slowly beginning to notice me. Sometimes, [being famous] can be overwhelming. [The media] can be pretty demanding. Sometimes they want you to dance when you don't feel like it. But when you see the finished product it's all worth it. Ultimately, hard work does pay off. People need to be reminded that sometimes good things come to those who work with a sense of purpose."

And Luca can speak of this first hand. "My diagnosis could have been a let-down. But I didn't let it deter me," says Luca, who has undergone a total of 16 surgeries since he was eight months old. "Two of my operations were particularly painful and demanded long recuperation periods. I had a nine-hour-long scoliosis surgery when I was 13 and an Osteotomy at 15. Prior to the Osteotomy, I could not extend my leg more than 130 degrees because my tendons were too stiff. Following the surgery, I was in the hospital for two-and-a-half weeks and in a hip-to-toes cast for over two months with a long bar between my legs. Having so many surgeries can be a drag so I've had to view them as extended vacations."

Yet even in the most trying times, Luca recalls always being able to count on his family and friends for support. "I draw inspiration from so many people. My parents, Flavio and Laura, were always pretty open with me about everything, including my disability. They've always encouraged me to explore new things. My mother's sense of humor has always been a big help too. I remember after my Osteotomy, my friends wanted to take me out but it was cold outside and my mother was concerned about the fact that my toes were exposed from the cast. So she insisted I put gloves on my feet! It was pretty funny - she's always doing little things to make me laugh. As for my father, he once told me that Œa person¹s first failure is not to try.¹ I've always tried to live by these words."

Luca is also grateful for the bond he shares with his older brother and friends. "My brother Stefano and I share similar interests. When I first started dancing, my brother was a DJ and we would perform at events together. Our relationship grew stronger as a result. It's hard to put into words what he means to me; he's played such a vital role in helping me be the person I am today. Of course, my best friends Jed, Dan and Ryan have also played a huge part in my life. They¹ve always treated me as an equal. I forget I have crutches when I¹m around them. This may not sound like much but it is."

Reflecting on his experiences as a child, it may very well have been the network around him that contributed to Luca¹s overwhelmingly positive memories. "There was only one time when a kid called me 'handicapped' when I was five years old. I ran to my father and told him about it. He looked at me and said, ŒYou tell that kid that he is handicapped in the brain!¹ I learned then that if people want to be ignorant about [others with disabilities] that's their problem. It's a waste of time to worry about such things."

Eighteen years after the infamous "incident", Luca continues to take challenges related to his mobility in his stride. "Using elevators at Concordia University can be tough since they are always full of people. I normally try to avoid them. The subway too has had its moments. People are often unsure if they should give up their seats. I find it humorous because I can tell when they are unsure. I don't want them to give up their seat, necessarily - I'm usually only on for one or two stops - but I do look for the gesture. If it comes cool, if not, it's no big deal."

* Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine and rotation of the vertebrae.
* An Osteotomy is a surgical operation whereby a bone is cut to shorten, lengthen, or change its alignment. The aim of Luca¹s Osteotomy was to enable his leg to fully extend.


Perhaps one of the best perks about being a star is Luca¹s increased opportunity to travel and meet new people who appreciate his skills. "I¹ve been to Italy, France and many North American cities including Los Angeles and Toronto numerous times. I love getting positive feedback. I've gotten emails and letters from all over, including Japan, Korea, Sweden, Italy, France and South America. My fan-base stems from all walks of life and consists of different ages. I like to keep in contact with people. Some turn into friendships," he adds.

According to Luca, Montreal is not as advanced in terms of its break-dance innovations as cities in Europe, Asia and the United States. "But we hope to change this by traveling more to see what's out there. We can then bring new ideas back and use them in our routine," says Luca. "Traveling helps to keep us on our toes. It's important in hip-hop culture to look fresh. You always have to stand out. For example, if you dance on a black floor you have to make sure you dress with colors that contrast with black. I usually wear baggy pants and bright colors," says Luca.

If dress is important, so is the need to have a signature move. "There's one move where I fly off my crutches and land on my hands in a "planch" position ­ that¹s where your legs and torso are parallel to the ground while you're in the air. From there I do all sorts of various moves. People seem to like that one a lot," he says with a grin.

While Luca has indeed met a number of short-term goals he wisely ponders his long-term objectives as well. "I want to be in a video game one day," he chuckles. "That would be cool." He pauses. "Seriously, I want to do some motivational speaking down the line. I've already given a few presentations in Montreal including one at Montreal¹s Mackay Centre School recently. I¹ve also spoken to kids at a high school in Texas and I enjoyed it a lot."

His message? "Adapt yourself to whatever life gives you - there's no time to sulk. Never give up. If you want something you have to go and get it. Anything is possible. I know it sounds like a cliché but it's the truth. I would also add don't make any excuses. Just go out and do what you love. It's all about chilling and having fun!"

As for his passion for break-dancing, Luca believes he still has between five and 10 "good years" left to continue pursuing his calling. As he explains, "you don't retire per se from dancing. There are a limited amount of kilometers a dancer¹s body can travel. With good training to maintain strength, you can dance for a long time," says Luca, whose exercise regimen includes swimming and weight training. "But if you run into some physical obstacles or injuries, they can easily prevent you from continuing to dance. Your body will tell you when it's the end of the line."

For now, Luca¹s body and mind appear to be in prime physical shape. "I¹ve strengthened my legs at least 20 to 40 percent and am inching towards my goal of walking everyday. I believe therefore I can," he says confidently.

Dealt a challenging condition at birth, Luca Lazylegz Patuelli has been defying the odds ever since - all while adding his own original "spin" on life.

* The Mackay Centre School is a school for children who are deaf and/or have other disabilities.