Velazquez has also choreographed and danced in several major motion pictures, and has won more nationwide dance competitions than we have room to list. He studied theatre arts at Juilliard in New York City, one of the most prestigious schools for music, dance and drama in the world. Velazquez also won three of the prestigious Golden Apple Awards for excellence in teaching in one year, a first in the history of the U.S. Ballroom Championships. Despite his tremendous success in dance, Velazquez believes there is much more he can do in his lifetime. Your life is over when you're six feet underground.
New amputees are frightened.
They need reassurance and understanding. Velazquez dedicates much of his energy to helping people understand these words of wisdom and motivation by his example and his teaching. Amputees have a bond. Emotions and perspective are affected just as much as physical abilities, and Velazquez works as a motivational speaker to help amputees learn more about their disability. Recovering amputees also have to find an outlet to release their emotions and fears, no matter how closed and impassive they were before the amputation, Velazquez adds.