Way back in the prehistory of YouTube (December 2005) an 18-year-old Israeli girl uploaded a minute-long clip of her right hand doing breakdance moves on a kitchen table. More than one million people watched the clip, and many of them tried it themselves. There are now hundreds of copycat videos, often featuring teeny tiny trainers, hand-sized baggy jeans or Michael Jackson outfits . Disappointingly, there’s no specialist online finger-dance boutique, but £9.99 will nevertheless buy you a little plastic dance mat , which plugs into your computer for limitless finger-dance fun.

Finger-related YouTube videos continue to be popular. Daft Hands (superior hand dancing to a song by Daft Punk) has been watched 20 million times, but the undisputed king is Charlie Bit My Finger Again , a 56-second clip of a baby biting a toddler’s finger that has been watched 35 million times. Our culture is safe in YouTube’s hands.

The 10 Greatest finger dancing videos ever made

1. Fingers Breakdance

Certainly the original, possibly not the best. YouTube user bgirldeedee has lots more clips on her profile.

2. Finger Ballet

Filmed on a layover at Houston Airport, it's almost beautiful. Almost.

3. Tap Tap Revolution

It's like Dance Dance Revolution, but for an iPhone.

4. Black Finger the Boogie Dancer

With subtitles, minimalist costumes and a bright green background, it's a bit like an Eastern European art film.

5. Fastest Fingers

It's fast! And filmed on a high school desk one lunchtime, by the looks of it.

6 Do a Little dance

Props! Two hands! Slow motion! Shame it seems to have been choreographed by a horse

7. Rockit, by Herbie Hancock

No costume, no background, but top breaking skills

8. Michael Jackson Tribute

Excellent use of a laptop as background, but rubbish dancing.

9. Greased Lightning

Moving away from the hip hop roots of finger breakdancing. Exemplary minature scenery.

10. Kid Sister feat Kanye West: Pro Nails

Fingerdancing finally makes it to the big time. I wonder where Kanye got his mini trainers?

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