“In Japan a lot of college students and people in their 20s do it,” said Yuki Tanaka, 26, through a translator. He still remembers the excitement and movement from watching a fusion performance years ago, and how it inspired him to pursue the team sport.
Eventually, five years ago, he was able to perform on stage at the Apollo Theater. This year, he sat with his students, pointing out legends in the Double Dutch world and cheering the kids on.
“The Apollo Theater is a dream, a big goal, for a lot of [Double Dutch jumpers] in Japan,” Tanaka explained. Tanaka now coaches elementary and middle school students at his company called Branch. “I want to share that experience and excitement with the kids.”
The main competition in Japan is the Double Dutch Delight, and the top three winning teams from that get to come to the Apollo Theater.
“Right now I feel amazing! The Apollo Theater is my dream, and it was so much fun,” said Yurina Nakamura, coming out from back stage after performing fusion freestyle choreographed to 90s pop music with her team Altavista from Shiga, Japan. They had placed third in the 2014 Double Dutch Delight.
They are all juniors in university now, and had met at the Double Dutch club as freshmen. “This is our last performance,” Nakamura said.
Nakamura was a dancer, and the other members all played different sports. No one had any experience at the beginning, but a performance Nakamura saw inspired her to join the club. It looked even more exciting than dancing.
The university club has no coach, so the seniors pass on what they know and each team puts everything together themselves, from choreography to costumes.
“We cannot do Double Dutch alone. We’re just like a family. We can say anything to each other,” Nakamura said. “It’s all about the team.”
