Home town shot at world title glory for break-dancer

Scott Coulson, known in dance circles at B-Boy Beanz, is hoping to flip and spin his way to the European qualifier in Naples, Italy, when he competes in the Red Bull BC One UK qualifier, which runs from 1pm to 6.30pm.

The 24-year-old will go head-to-head with the UK’s best break-dancers, also known as B-Boys, at the nationwide contest at Canal Mills, off Armley Road, Armley.

If successful he could ultimately compete at the world final in Seoul, South Korea.

Scott was chosen by a panel of industry experts to compete.

He said: “I am honoured to have been chosen to battle at BC One, and looking forward to testing myself against some of the UK’s finest B-Boys.

“It’s amazing for our city to be hosting such a big event, a first in the UK.”

As one of 80 events globally, the free entry UK leg will see 16 competitors whittled down to just one victor over four intense knockout stages.

They will be ranked on their style, skill, execution and routine by an expert panel of judges.

Eight of the 16 competing B-Boys, including Scott, have been pre-selected by independent experts as some of the best UK talent on the global scene.

However the other eight places will be determined by a qualifier held earlier in the day, open to all hopefuls that think they have what it takes to win in the one-on-one arena.

Open qualifiers will run from 2pm to 3.30pm before the finals get under way at 4pm.

The winning BC One UK Cypher champion will be crowned at 6pm, leaving with a plane ticket to the western Europe regional final and the title of the UK’s best one-on-one B-Boy.

Visit www.redbullbcone.com or www.canalmills.com for further information on the free entry event.

Break-dancing first became popular in the hip hop scene in Brooklyn, New York City.

It went on to become a global phenomenon during the late 1970s and early 1980s, being featured in many movies and music videos.