If Luca Patuelli was supposed to let life pass him by, someone forgot to leave him a memo. Born with a physical condition that could have negatively impacted his life, the remarkable Luca Patuelli instead chose to face this obstacle head on.

Luca was diagnosed with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), a rare congenital disorder characterized by reduced mobility of many joints in the body including the arms and legs. Luca was fortunate enough to have the condition restricted only to his legs and walks with the aid of crutches. The cause is unknown and it is not thought to be genetic, nor is the condition degenerative.

"It's not really something that affects the nerves. In fact, I vowed in 1995 that one day I would walk without crutches. As it stands I can't really walk without them. As for wheelchairs, I use them only after surgeries. I don't like getting pushed around. Not only are they physically uncomfortable, it's also a question of independence. I am inching towards my goal of walking everyday." Indeed, Luca has strengthened his legs, "...at least 20% to 40%," through his workout regimen. "I believe, therefore I can," is the way he looks at it.

Luca sets his crutches aside and is also guided by a simple philosophy. "It's all in the way you take life. Everyday we learn new things. Just try to have fun." Not surprising for a young breakdancer with big plans.

Dance performer you say? How? "A friend of mine who was a breakdancer introduced me to it when I was 15 after I was unable to skateboard because of my surgeries. I fell in love with it right away. I learnt by practicing during lunch at school and watching breakdancing videos. It's now a dream of mine to make a name for myself."

One may indeed be surprised that breakdancing, which is a subset of hip-hop culture, remains a vibrant underground community. "Some trace it back to James Brown because he was the first to drop to his knees. Commercially, the Rock Steady Crew out of New York City popularized breakdancing in the late 70s and early 80s. It's now extremely popular in places like Europe and Korea."

Knowing history and the roots of whatever activity or job one participates in is something Luca takes seriously. "It's important to read up on things. Good or bad, it helps give a sense of purpose and direction.

"Gaining recognition didn't come all that quickly. It's taken me six or seven years to reach the point where people are slowly beginning to notice me. Now that I think about it, I kinda like being recognized," he adds with a boyish smile.

At 22 years of age, he's already turning his dreams into reality. He recently appeared on the Today Show after the NBC program discovered him on YouTube, a consumer media company where people watch and share original videos.