Double Dutch — Not Just Child’s Play
Story and photos by Mikhael Simmonds
Sweat rolled down competitors’ foreheads as teams from as far as France and Japan competed in the 24th Annual Double Dutch Holiday Classic last Sunday.
Double Dutch competitions first started in 1974. They involve speed tests, doubles sets and dance components. But don’t be fooled, this is not just a child’s games anymore.
“It has evolved to a cultural art, music, dance and a sport,” said Lauren Walker, the event director and producer.
Forth graders, millennials and even some middle aged adults jumped, skipped and danced their way to success on the stage of the world famous Apollo. The house was packed and lively. The teams were loud, yelling instructions to each other trying to keep rhythm. The competition was fierce.
Dozens of teams competed in drills which included 2-minute speed tests and other compulsory moves such as high steps and crisscross jumping. But the main event that night was the choreographed danced competition known as ‘fusion freestyle.’
The foreign teams were among the crowd favorites eventually winning Best of Show. Japanese teams, Chap-Lin and B-Jack took the first and second places respectfully, while the French team, Skip-R Crew, came in third place.
Twenty-two year-old Jefferson’s team from France didn’t place in this competition but he was still happy to be there. He said that it was five years ago at a similar competition where he was first inspired to take up the sport.
“In 2010, there was the world Championship in Paris. A friend sent me an invitation and I went. When I saw the jumping I was like, AMAZING! WOW! I want to do that,” Jefferson said with a excited smile on his face.
Double Dutch has come a long way from the inner city streets and playgrounds. Lauren Walker’s farther, David A. Walker, was the founder of the National Double Dutch League and the person whose memory the competition is held. The story goes that in the 1970s, her father was an NYPD officer walking the beat when he saw some young ladies jumping double dutch in the street. It was then he decided to take the recreational activity and turn it into a competitive sport.
Today, in 2015, Lauren Walker says it has become so much more.
“Double Dutch is not only a great activity or a fun sport to do in the school yard as recreation but also we can show a health way to compete — healthy competition and that’s what we have here today,” Walker said at the end of the Classic. “It’s also a lot of fun to watch.”
Despite the sport’s growing popularity overseas, and it officially becoming a ‘high school varsity sport’ in New York City a few years back, Walker believes Double Dutch can still jump to new heights.
“We hope to one day have it in the Olympics,” Walker said with focus in her eyes.
And why not? With skating, curling and synchronized swimming all active in the games, Double Dutch just might have a chance to make it into the 2020 Olympics.
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