Red Bull BC One tournament brings the best breakers to Philadelphia

Driving the news: The top three b-boys and b-girls from Sunday's event advance to the finals in Los Angeles on Sept. 26.

• They're being whittled down from a field of two dozen breakers, including winners of recent competitions in Boston, Miami and New York.
• Six up-and-coming competitors will advance from prelims to take part in the main event.

Zoom in: Som, whose real name is Eric Lopez, is looking forward to competing in front of a hometown crowd.

• His coach, Dosu, tells Axios that Lopez enters the contest as an underdog, but that'll bring out his best.

The intrigue: While the crowd typically goes wild for power moves — intricate, acrobatic and athletic spins and handstands — judges are looking for competitors attuned to more traditional and technical aspects, like precise footwork and rhythmic connection to the music.

What they're saying: Philly judge and breaker BoxWon tells Axios those elements are important in Philadelphia, a city deeply connected to breaking.

• "Philly specializes in the soul," he says. "If somebody wanted to get somebody's phone number, you had to dance for it."

And many showcase an in-your-face style.

• Local breaker Steve Believe, who is emceeing the event, recalls someone tossing a soda can at him mid-routine at a local club years ago.

• He won the crowd over by chugging the drink and throwing it back.

"In this city, people are always going to throw bulls--t at you," he says.

If you go: Free. Prelims: 2pm; main event: 4pm.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a change in date for the Red Bull BC One tournament, which was moved to Sunday due to weather concerns.