The UK B-Boy Championships is moving to Birmingham in partnership with DanceXchange as the new official partner for the 2013 World Finals for the next two years.

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The 2013 World Finals, which will be hosted by Crazy Legs of the Rock Steady Crew NYC, will be held at the O2 Academy Birmingham, relocating the knockout rounds and final stage of the international championships from its previous home at the Brixton Academy in London.

The new partnership is part of an ongoing two-year commitment to urban dance within the West Midlands, which will include a major project for International Dance Festival Birmingham, co-produced by DanceXchange.

David Massingham, artistic director of DanceXchange commented: “DanceXchange is immensely proud of Birmingham’s reputation as a global centre of dance and through all of our work, including International Dance Festival Birmingham, we strive to bring the best dance from across the world to the city.”

He continued: “As the premiere showcase of the most extraordinary talent in urban dance, The UK B-Boy Championships was a natural partner for us and we are looking forward to working with Hooch and the team to create a spectacular event at the O2 in September.”

DJ Hooch,founder and director of the UK B-Boy Championships commented: “As the World’s premier urban dance competition, the B-Boy Championships has always broken new ground. Building a strong relationship with DanceXchange will allow us to develop the Championships in fresh new ways.”

The new partnership with DanceXchange will also facilitate a broader programme across both days, including workshops for the general public along with the addition of the National Crew Championships for Great Britain and Open International Qualifiers for the solo categories on the first day.

Hooch continued: “We are really excited about this new move and having Birmingham as the new host city of this incredible dance spectacle!”

5,000 people a year travel to see the UK B-Boy Championships; However, O2 Academy Birmingham will see a downsize of audience with a 3,000 person capacity.

It is not the only grand-scale event to downsize its venue: In November 2012 Battle of the Year organisers announced it was moving back to Germany, a decline from a 12,000 capacity stadium to 7,000.