Chongqing Teen Wins Street Dance World Title

A 13-year-old dancer from Chongqing has captured the global championship at a world-class street dance competition, marking a historic breakthrough for Chinese competitors in a category long dominated by Japan and South Korea.

Li Yongqiu clinched the Junior Dance Tour global title at the 2026 Juste Debout World Final in France on March 8, becoming the third Chinese dancer to win the event's youth division.

Li began training in breaking at the age of 5 and has kept up an intense routine for eight years, practicing five to six days a week for several hours a day, his coach, surnamed Lei, told The Paper. Lei described the teenager as "disciplined to the extreme," recalling how Li repeatedly practiced demanding windmill spins until his knees were bruised, yet never eased his training.

Competing solo in the junior category, Li delivered a final-round routine that blended breaking with elements of traditional Chinese martial arts. His choreography featured drunken-fist-inspired footwork, fast and steady Thomas flares, and sharp handstand freezes executed precisely on beat, drawing loud cheers from the audience.

"I'm very happy. Feeling the atmosphere of the world stage was truly overwhelming," Li told Xinhua News Agency after the victory, adding that he would share the trophy with his teachers and family in gratitude for their support.

Founded in 2002, Juste Debout is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative competitions in the street dance world and a benchmark for elite performance. This year's event attracted more than 4,000 dancers from over 40 countries, with around 400 advancing through global qualifiers to compete in the Paris final.

Other young Chinese dancers also impressed. Liu Yangjunmiao from Yibin, Sichuan Province, reached the top eight in the youth division with a routine inspired by the Chinese mythological figure Nezha. In the adult popping category, Zhang Xinlan and Zhang Chuyi advanced to the top eight, standing out as the only Asian duo in that division's final lineup.