2011 has been an amazing year! Full of learning experiences, amazing travel adventures, and opportunities to have met and worked with some incredible people. I look forward to taking advantage of the things I’ve learned and applying them this new year and the years to come.

I would like to thank my Family, friends, and supporters from around the world for making 2011 so successful. Lets continue making a difference together and let 2012 only get better

Happy Holidays to everyone and all the best in the New Year! 

December

ILL-Abilities™ came together one more time for a mini-tour. Thank you to Delta Hotels and Discount Quebec for sponsoring and supporting the crew. The final performance of “Orphee” in 2011 ended in Lisbon, Portugal.

Video Highlights: ILL-Abilities Canadian Mini-Tour | Behind the Scenes Recap | navator.com from navator.com

Travels of the Month: Toronto, Ludwigsburg, Lisbon

November

Another incredible month with the honour of being awarded with a “Difference Maker” Medal  from Rick Hansen himself and a climactic performance for the ParaPanAm Games.

Video Highlights: Justin Hynes “Say what you will” - A new friend and talented artist I met at the Closing Ceremonies of the ParaPanAm Games

Travels of the Month: Toronto, Ottawa, Guadalajara, Paris, Cannes

October

An inspiring month including several of my students from JC Stylez walking their furthest distance ever at the Muscular Dystrophy Canada Walk helping raise over $3,000.

Video Highlights: Cap48 – Fundraiser Event in Belgium – My performance with some amazing local dancers at 4min55sec

Travels of the Month: Ottawa, Brussels, Liege, Taber, Edmonton, Toronto

September

ILL-Abilities™ had the honour to showcase our 20-minute theatre show at the infamous IBE. I also had my debut performance of “Orphee” with the Modern Dance Company (Montavlo-Hervieu).

Video Highlights: IBE Mini Documentary on ILL-Abilities™

Travels of the Month: Toronto, Amsterdam, Heerlen, Lyon, Hong Kong, Paris, Moscow

August

ILL-Abilities™ and ILLMASK partnered together to celebrate the 25^th year anniversary of the Halifax International Busker Festival

Video Highlights: Busker’s Festival Highlight Video by Bboy Tommy Guns

Travels of the Month: Rome, Halifax, Missoula

July

I am proud to share with you that I proposed to my girlfriend Melissa and I are officially engaged.

Video Highlights: The best scene’s from the movie The NoteBook – One of Melissa’s favourite Movies and what (kind of… ) inspired me to propose to her in Venice, Italy

Travels of the Month: Kansas City, Brantford, Toronto, Florence, Venice, Rome

June

Speakers Spotlight one of Canada’s finest speaking bureaus began to represent me this month.

Video Highlights: A video of my Students JC Stylez – Very inspirational, my daily inspiration!

Travels of the Month: Toronto 

May

NO LIMITS 2 breakdance competition the grand finale event. Thanks to Aeroplan we had the opportunity to invite world-renowned bboys from Soul Control, Funky Dope Maneuvers, La Smala, and Renegades Crew.

Video Highlights: Highlight clip from our Stage show – Thanks to Lil Ant for the clips

Travels of the Month: Ottawa, Toronto, Washington DC, New York, Thunder Bay, Toronto

April

The official ILL-Abilities NO LIMITS tour has arrived. Thanks to Discount Quebec we travelled over 10,000miles on the road and performed over 25 shows in 30-days.

Video Highlights: NO LIMITS Tour Wrap-Up – Thanks to Stephano Patuelli (my brother)

Travels of the Month: New Jersey, New York, Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec City, Barrie

March
Have you heard of Blueprint for Life? They are an organization that travels in Arctic Communities teaching HipHop to local youth. What an empowering moment in my career.

Video Highlights: Wrap-up Video from our experience in Kuujjuaq – Thanks to Tommy Guns for the clip

Travels of the Month: Kuujjuaq, Regina, Paris, Vichy, St. Brieuc

February

Official confirmation on 3 of our biggest sponsors were confirmed. Aeroplan came through with a 500,000-mile donation, Discount Quebec agreed to donate the tour van, Spinelli Toyota of Pointe Claire donated the hand control and decals on the van.

Video Highlights: My Promo Video :)

Travels of the Month: Toronto

January

Tommy Guns spent sometime in Canada working on his motivational speaking skills and performed with me at McMaster’s University. Where I will be speaking again on January 25, 2012.

Video Highlights: McMasters TV Up Close and Personal with ILL-Abilities™

Travels of the Month: Los Angeles, Toronto, Hamilton

Hello World!

We are proud to announce the whole ILL-Abilities™ crew will be back in Canada next week!

Performance Schedule:
- Monday, Nov. 28 – University of Ottawa (1pm at Student Union Atrium) Free and Open to Public  
– Tuesday, Nov. 29 – Carleton University (7pm @ Student Union Building) FREE and OPEN to Public 
– Thursday, Dec. 1 – Diversity Day - Toronto Gov’t show
– Saturday, Dec. 3 – STAGE Variety Show (7pm $15 in Advance, $20 @ Door) – Check flyer below for more info

We would like to thank Discount Car and Truck Rental and Delta Hotels  for supporting us!

This is a little photo journal of the past 40-days of my life. I have traveled across; USA (montana), Canada (Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa), France (Lyon and Paris), Holland (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Heerlen), Hong Kong, Russia (Moscow), Belgium(Liege)

Enjoy!

Just got back from a very short trip in Ottawa literally 5hrs there and back. Performed for the Canadian Security Intelligence Services. Walking into the building felt like a movie but no there were no “men in black” agents their unless they were in another building.

Not going to lie I was a little nervous speaking and performing today, but I am proud to share the show was a huge success! I had a lot of fun and it seemed the audience really enjoyed it too.

Thank you to Speakers Spotlight   for hooking up the show! Much Appreciated.

For anyone interested C.S.I.S is currently hiring and looking for new young professional employees. Feel free to check out their website for more info on how to apply! www.intelligencematters.ca

So I didn’t tell you this yet but I have actually been invited to Moscow to perform before the actual premier of Orphee. This appearance has nothing to do with the Montalvo-Hervieu. It actually has everything to do with my past performance at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Opening Ceremonies.

I have been invited as the guest of honour for the Muhina’s Award ceremony. I will be speaking and performing in front of over 1,300 people in this cool cathedral in the centre of moscow. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour 

From Hong Kong I had to fly directly to Paris to continue rehearsals with Montalvo-Hervieu. Just a couple days left til our big premier in Moscow.

Check out a promo clip from the show:
Orphee Promo

I have been invited along with Tommy Guns to perform in Hong Kong for a national television program raising awareness for people with disabilities.

My first time in HK looking forward to raising some havoc with Tommy. Keep on a look out for Tommy’s famous wrap-up videos of this trip (coming soon). Check out his past ones on his vimeo page

No Excuses, No Limits

Does MD affect you personally?

Lazy: Arthrogryposis falls under the umbrella of MD. My Arthrogryposis mainly affects me in my legs and partially in my shoulders.

Do you know many people who do?

Lazy: I have met a couple people with MD and I have actually taught dance to several students affected by the condition

Is the I-A crew behind you on this initiative?

Lazy: Of course, we always have our back with everything, thats why we are a crew! I overheard Tommy Guns and possibly Redo are trying to find a way to come up to Montreal to Walk the Walk

Why are you walking for MDC (why is it important)?

Lazy: I think its important to raise awareness for all different causes. As the new ambassador of MD Canada I am honoured for this opportunity. I also want to challenge myself as well as my team to express themselves with new challenges whether it be physical or not. For example for this walk I plan on walking 0.5Km without crutches or leg braces.

What are your goals to this walk, what do you hope to achieve?

Lazy: I hope to raise enough awareness for the MD community in Montreal. I hope that we can create a successful and positive environment and most importantly that on Sunday Oct. 16 we are all having a good time! Join us by clicking this link: http://muscle.akaraisin.com/westislandwalkformusculardystrophy2011/nolimits

What is the one thing about MD that was surprising for you?

Lazy: That Arthrogryposis falls under its umbrella.

What would you say to people that have MD, that don’t think they can dance?

Lazy: Anyone can dance. I have already taught students with MD to dance. Its all in the mind. There can be good days and bad days where my student might not be able to lift their hand like they did the week before because of exhaustion but in reality when your dancing and performing “the littlest movement makes the biggest difference.” 

After an exciting and successful weekend at the IBE. I am off (solo) to work with Montalvo-Hervieu Dance Company a well known theatrical dance company from Paris that is currently working on L’Orphee the modern day Orpheus. I have been asked to replace the lead roll.

This is my first time working with a Dance Company and we will be showing the first show of the season in Moscow, Russia on Sept. 29, 2011.

Check out this link for more info on the company http://theatre-chaillot.fr/danse/orphee