Stories

What Does Dance Mean to the
B-Boys of ILL-Abilities™?

Get ready for a dance party! The b-boys of ILL-Abilities™ have flown in from four continents to bust expectations with moves so sick your head will spin. No Excuses, No Limits takes audiences on a journey of each performer’s story through dance, music and audience interaction, shining a spotlight on the limitless potential we all possess.

A yellow background with two breakdancers on either side of text that says "What Dance Means To The B-Boys Of ILL-Abilities"

Who Are ILL-Abilities™?

Hailing from seven countries (Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, the Netherlands, South Korea and the U.S.) and founded in 2007 by Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli, ILL-Abilities™ uses positive attitudes and unique dance styles to inspire audiences to achieve their dreams by pursuing them “their own way.”

Two performers breakdance in the front while four performers cheer them on from behind

Where Does the Name “ILL-Abilities” Come From?

ILL-Abilities’™ name comes from the custom in hip-hop culture of using a negative term to describe something positive. Rather than “ill” meaning “sick” or “unwell,” it refers to the incredible talent of the crew!

Two performers dressed in all black dance on their crutches in front of a purple background

The Power of Dance

We sat down with the five members of ILL-Abilities™ who are performing at the New Victory to talk about what dance means to them.

Sergio “Checho” Carvajal (Chile): Dancing is feeling free, that anything is possible. I am transported to a world where my physical differences cease to be problems. Dancing taught me to accept myself and express myself without fear.

Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli (Canada): Dance is the ultimate form of self-expression. It’s the one activity, I believe, that doesn’t discriminate. Everyone can dance by creating their own style and moving their own way. It’s about being you.

Samuel Henrique “Samuka” da Silveira Lima (Brazil): For me, dance is a way to talk, a therapy. It makes you alive and present.

Lucas “Perninha” Machado (Brazil): Dance, for me, is an act of fate. It’s how I face struggles and keep going. When I touch the floor and feel the music, I feel alive.

Redouan “Redo” Ait Chitt (The Netherlands): Dance is freedom. My early life was filled with many limitations and doubts, and dance became my way out.

Jung Soo “Krops” Lee (South Korea): Dance is how I express my emotions. It enhances my happiness and comforts me when I’m sad. It’s not just movement, it’s a language. A way to express what I am feeling inside.

Six performers with physical disabilities stand as a group while one in the center, on crutches, speaks.
(From L to R) Krops, Samuka, Checho, Lazylegz, Perninha, Redo

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All photos by Alexis Buatti-Ramos

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