Earlier this month, July 15th-18th, the national breakdancing forum Cypher For Change Information took place in Whitehorse, Yukon. According to its website, this gathering and networking of over forty b-boys and b-girls from around Canada seeks, "to inspire youth to make differences in their own community."
Along with the visiting artists were guest speakers Stephen "Buddha" Leafloor (Canadian Floor Masters and Blueprint for Life), Luca "Lazylegz" Patuelli (IllmaticStyles and Illabilities) and Michael "Piecez" Prosserman (M.E.C. and Unity). Also among the guest judges and workshop leaders were Wicket (Renegades Crew and Footwork Fanatix), Kid David (Renegades Crew, The Squadron and Break Disciples) and Easy Roc (Rocksteady Crew).
While this trailer video offers a glimpse at the 2009 gathering, new YouTube videos are popping up with footage of this year's events. Click read more for two recent clips.
As found on his website, Lazylegz's biography is an intense and astonishing story. Born with arthrogryposis (a rare muscle and joint disorder that affects his legs) and later diagnosed with scoliosis (a condition that affects the curvature of his spine), Patuelli took up break dancing at age fifteen. Now an internationally acclaimed performer and competitor, an event organizer in the b-boy community and a motivational speaker, he currently performs with the ILLMASK crew and also ILL-Abilities, a unique International BBoy crew consisting of disabled dancers. Be sure to check out more videos on YouTube to see more of the action.
