When the Red Bull Dance Your Style competition qualifiers come to New Orleans on August 3, the competition will give dancers a chance to perform for the nation and then the world. New Orleans’ own D.C. Paul will host the event at Generations Hall as 16 competitors perform in front of a live audience. 

Whatever the performers’ styles may be–whether they’re proficient in hip-hop, popping, jookin’, waacking, locking or anything in between–the competition accepts the artistic choices of each dancer and encourages whichever style the performers choose. The dancers will be allowed freedom of movement and expression on the dancefloor, with the music ranging from classic beats to recent hits, all of which will be spun by DJ G-CUE, a New Orleans native known for his three consecutive performances at Essence Fest and his pre-game performances for the Saints and Pelicans. August 3’s event will also feature Big Freedia.

Along with the regional qualifier in New Orleans, Red Bull Dance Your Style will host similar events in Honolulu, Washington D.C., Miami and Boston. Then, in September, the winner from each qualifier will move on to the U.S. National Final in Las Vegas, and from there the national champion will travel to the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final, which is taking place in Paris, France on October 12.

With a growing interest in street dance–thanks, in large part, to the popularization of hip-hop culture, its presence in viral music videos and its influence on the fashion industry–Red Bull Dance Your Style hopes to emphasize the style’s world wide popularity and its different variations.

Generations Hall is located at 310 Andrew Higgins Blvd. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Attendees must be at least 18 years old. Tickets are $5, and they are available for purchase through the eventbrite website, here. More information is available at the event’s website, here.