2010 Lazylegz Year-end Review
2010 has been an extraordinary year. So much has happened including some of my biggest career and personal accomplishments (Paralympic Opening Ceremonies, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and my 1-km walk). This year has flown by quickly, a little too quickly, but I have written a little year-end review to remind me of everything that has happened.
January –
What a great start to the year. ILLMASK was officially selected to perform at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Ceremonies. We all started working on our flips, myself included and I am currently working on a Front Flip off my crutches. I am capable of completing it on gym mats, but am too nervous to attempt it on hard floor.
This month also included several performances at MacMasters U, Algonquin College, U of Ottawa, as well as many local performances at different schools in the area. I began to teach at the Mackay Center working along side a Recreation Therapist on the adapted version of the Wizard of Oz.
Travels of the Month: Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa
February –
Training was going well and our choreography for the Paralympics was coming together.
February was kind of a crazy month. I was officially teaching 3 times a week between Joseph Charbonneau and Mackay Center. I was also training for another show “Ground up & Beyond” (10-minute Contemporary Solo piece choreographed by K8 Alsterlund) which was to be performed immediately after the Paralympics in March.
Travels of the Month: Belgium (Europe), Ottawa, Toronto
March –
This was an incredible month, and when you hear the saying “hard work pays off,” it really does. My career dream came true on March 12, 2010 performing as a Headline act at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Opening Ceremonies. That night we broke a world record for the largest “Flash Mob Dance” in the world. I had never performed in front of such a large audience before and that night when I lifted my crutch in the air and felt the energy from the audience, I truly felt like a RockStar!
Afterwards, I had to head back to Montreal for an official dress rehearsal for the up coming 2-week performances of “Ground up and Beyond” at the Monument National for Danse Cite in collaboration with France Geoffroy’s Corpuscule Danse
Travels of the Month: Vancouver, New York, Ottawa
April –
April was a great month as well. Things were a bit more relaxed and excitement was winding down slowly from the Paralympic experience. I was invited to perform at the Grand Opening of Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas; it is the world’s first and only fully accessible theme park for people of all ages and all abilities. It was a great experience to visit the park and see so many people all together enjoying themselves with no barriers or differences. I also got to meet actress Eva Longoria and NBA legend David Robinson.
I also got to perform at the opening ceremonies of the Defi Sportif in Montreal. Though not nearly as big as the Paralympics but an event that takes just as big of a place in my heart.
Check out this clip of our battle in Washington, DC.
Travels of the Month: San Antonio, Toronto, Washington DC, Edmonton
May –
May was another exciting month as my students from both schools were preparing for their year-end show(s). Mackay Centre’s adapted version of the “Wizard of Oz” was a great success.
My students at Joseph Charbonneau were also preparing for their big show in front of the whole school. I have invited some of my friends who are also professional dancers as well as DJ Mana one of Montreal’s best DJ’s to perform for the kids. Check out the Promo Video of my students JC STYLEZ and their show recap.
Travels of the Month: Toronto, Thunder Bay
June –
The month of June was reserved primarily for the SYTYCD Canada Finals shoot. We filmed in Toronto for one week. Videos will be shown in the Month of August, as that was when the show aired J
I got to appear in a small cameo scene in the Quebec Film “Sur Le Rythme” starring Nico Archambault
I also performed at the C.O.C.A conference in London, Ontario one of Canada’s biggest college conferences. This was a showcase opportunity that was provided by Partick Artist
Travels of the Month: Toronto, London
July –
During July, I actually got to take a week off and promised my girlfriend Melissa I would turn my Blackberry off for the week. We got to vacation in Prince Edward Island.
Upon my return, I had the opportunity to perform for the Montana Youth Leadership Forum (M.Y.L.F) in Helena, Montana and from there flew to Whitehorse, Yukon for the Cypher for a Change(Video) event.
I also was invited to Judge the UNITY Charity Kickoff Battle in Toronto.
Travels of the Month: P.E.I, Helena, Yukon, Toronto
August –
On August 7, 2010 I accomplished my biggest physical challenge yet. I walked 1-KM with no crutches or leg braces. I have never walked this long before and the walk took me about 55-minutes to complete. Even though I easily fell over 50-times, I was determined to finish this walk; I was motivated by the children and family members walking alongside me. Thank you for your support! www.amcsupport.org
I am currently training for my 2-km next year. My goal is to do it under 1hr30min.
August was also the month that my 2-episode appearances on So You Think You Can Dance Canada aired. Check out my Audition and my Finals Week Episode. I am proud to share that I helped make history as I was the first person with a disability to ever make it that far on that show.
Travels of the Month: Orlando, Bradford, Toronto
September –
September was a great start to the Fall season including 2 trips to New York and 2 trips to Toronto. I performed at the University of Toronto and got to battle at the Skill Methods Anniversary. I personally did not do to well in the battle but my teammate and good friend Tommy Guns made it to the Semi Finals.
The first week of September I was brought back to Mackay Center to work on a new production of “The Grinch who stole Christmas”.
I also was a special guest judge at Montreal’s international event “Born 2 Serve”. It was a big honour to be judging this event with many of the world’s greatest Bboys including Nasty Ray, Blond, Villn, and many more.
Travels of the Month: Toronto, New York
October –
October was a crazy month of non-stop travelling. I performed the “Ground up & Beyond” piece at the L.A Juice Hip Hop Dance Festival, Battle Bboy Hourth for a French film along the side of a beach in Malta, Spoke at several conferences including the Canadian Paralympic Committee Award Ceremony, Shoppers Home Health Care, and Abilities Arts Festival. I also got invited to the So You Think You Can Dance Canada Finale as a special guest.
In October, I also started teaching again at Joseph Charbonneau every Tuesdays and Thursdays while being at Mackay on Wednesdays. I also took on a teaching position at the Friendship Circle.
Travels of the Month: Toronto, Los Angeles, Montana, Malta(Europe), New York, Ottawa
November –
November was another busy month. A last minute unexpected invitation for several performances in Mexico was on the list. In 4 days, we flew 10,000km and I think I spent more time in the plane than actually in Mexico, but the trip was a success and I spoke and performed in Spanish for a Festival in Colima and for the National Veracruz Futbol team.
In November, I was also honoured with the title of the new National Ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
Travels of the Month: Colima, Mexico City, Veracruz, Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto
December –
December was a calmer month for traveling, but crazy and hectic at home getting ready for the Mackay Centre production of “The Grinch” as well as Friendship Circles year end Chanukah show.
My students’ performances were a great success and I am looking forward to continuing working with them in the New Year.
Travels of the Month: Toronto
As you can see 2010 has been a great year and I am extremely thankful and appreciative for all the support that I have received from my family, friends, fans, and supporters. Thank you all for believing in me and let’s make some noise in 2011.
Keep on a look out for more projects with ILL-Abilities in 2011!!! Don’t forget to support us by purchasing a shirt on our Webstore. All proceeds go to the ILL-Abilities Fundraiser on May 14, 2011 in Montreal.