Chongqing teen wins Junior Dance Tour at Juste Debout world final

Thirteen-year-old Li Yongqiu from Chongqing recently claimed the Junior Dance Tour title at the Juste Debout 2026 World Final, a competition celebrated as the pinnacle of street dance.

According to Li's head coach, Lai Junquan, the boy also made history as the first Chinese dancer to win the youth division crown at this event.

Founded in France in 2002, Juste Debout attracts top dancers in styles like hip-hop, popping, and locking. This year's event drew over 4,000 dancers from more than 40 countries, with about 400 advancing through qualifiers to compete in Paris.

During the finals in the French capital on March 8, Li captivated judges and the audience with a routine that combined breaking techniques with backfist boxing, a classic kungfu style. A standout moment came when he held a headstand freeze as the music paused, earning loud cheers from the crowd.

Li, a student at Nanhua Middle School in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area, began learning breakdancing at eight. His impressive skills led to his selection for the Chongqing breakdancing team in 2022, organized by authorities in Shapingba district.

According to Li's personal coach, Chen Long, this highly disciplined boy practices five to six days a week. He typically trains for two to three hours after school on weekdays and five to six hours on weekends, all while keeping up with school.

Zhou Peng contributed to this story.