NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRAINING & PERFORMANCE DEMONSTRATION TEAM
The concept for the development of a National Training and Performance team evolved with the support given to the sport by the McDonald’s Corporation during late 1970’s. A national traveling team was named the McDonald’s Dynamos. Kate Griffith, a physical education instructor at New York City’s Intermediate School # 43 located in West Harlem, New York City, coached the team. Her coaching techniques for the sport of Double Dutch are famous and her techniques are featured in Skip Blumberg’s historic documentary “Pick Up Your Feet.”
The “Dynamos” traveled throughout the USA conducting on-lot presentation performances at McDonald restaurants. The team appeared on many national television and radio shows and also conducted fundamental training sessions wherever they appeared.
During 1983, while the team was conducting performances in Stockholm and Guttenberg, Sweden, David Walker and his host providers decided to conceptualize an International Double Dutch Team akin to the world famous basketball Globetrotters.
After returning from a successful training a performance trip in Sweden, Walker decided to call the official national and international team the Dynamic Diplomats of Double Dutch- DDDD. The decision was based on the recognition that the evolving sport of Double Dutch needed a diplomatic connective component and, also a recognized international governing body. Subsequently, the International Double Dutch Federation was formed. Initially formed in Sweden, it is now a corporation based in New York City.
Since its 1983 formation the Dynamic Diplomats of Dutch-DDDD© has [with the assistance of the National Double Dutch League] conducted training and professional demonstration presentations at many locations throughout the USA and in the following international locations:
Germany – Sweden – France – Bermuda – Nassau, Bahamas Japan – England
Photo by Craig McDean- Tabitha Simmons/ Spring 2013