Ropestylers Academy History: About Our Team & Values

History of Double Dutch

Born in New York almost three centuries ago, Double Dutch combines skill and rhythm.

In the 1970s, David A. Walker and Ulysses Williams formalised the sports rules; on 14 February 1974, the first official tournament was held.

In the early 1980s, the discipline became associated with hip-hop culture. In 1982, the group Fantastic Four introduced it in France during the New York City Rap Tour.

Since the 1990s, the structure has been organised through the Fédération Française de Double Dutch, while Japan has developed many contests and battles, contributing to the international rise of the practice since the early 2000s.

The Ropestylers Team: Double Dutch Artists

Présentation

Founded in 2015, the Ropestylers began with participatory street shows before moving on to theatres and stages in France and abroad.

Their motto: sharing their passion with as many people as possible.

Individual results (the collective itself does not compete):

• Top 15 — Double Dutch Contest World, Tokyo (2014)

• Top 12 — Double Dutch Holidays Classic, New York (2014)

• Top 3 — DD Contest Belgium, Antwerp (2014)

• Top 3 — Double Dutch One’s, Manises (2018)

• Top 3 — Double Dutch Contest France (2015, 2016)

• 2nd place — DD Contest France, Pau (2017)

• 3rd place — French Championships (2024)

These individual rankings highlight the sporting and artistic versatility of the members, even though the collective dedicates itself exclusively to stage creation.

• Festivals : FISE, Solidays, Eurockéennes, Lollapalooza

• Brand: Adidas, Christian Louboutin, Lacoste, The North Face × Gucci

• Press : BBC UK, « Vendredi tout est permis », « Ninja Warrior » (2023)

• Sports : FIBA 3×3 Lausanne, Champions League (Paris 2022)

• More : www.ropestylers.co.uk

From Double Dutch to Ropestyle: fusion of the arts

Double Dutch is a living art: choreographic language, movement narrative and stage expression.

With Ropestyle, the collective offers a contemporary and accessible vision where bodily expression, rhythm and dramaturgy meet.

Our artistic vision

Creating hybrid performances inspired by cultural spheres, theatre or event production, in full respect of both artist and audience.

Interdisciplinary crossings

Dance: hip-hop, contemporary, acrobatic

Music: DJ sets, beatmaking, live percussion

Sports & art: freestyle basketball, BMX, mountain biking, stage choreography

Role and expertise

Creators, performers and artistic consultants, we oversee choreographic direction or co-develop your projects, drawing on our pedagogical innovation.

An international professional collective, the Ropestylers created their signature style,
“Ropestyle” — choreography, staging, freestyle and educational innovation.

The team includes one manager and three artists trained in Belgium and Japan; two hold a French CQP (Certificat de Qualification Professionnelle), which is equivalent to a UK Level 3 vocational qualification, as well as an instructor diploma, ensuring expert guidance.

A story born in the streets

Achievements

Major artistic experiences

From the Team to the Ropestylers Academy

Mission

Our mission is to promote artistic Double Dutch in France: making learning accessible to all, opening and supporting regular training sites, and helping build a kind and creative community.

We pass on strong values: perseverance, confidence, positive relationship to mistakes, curiosity, openness and autonomy.

With The Ropestylers, a network of partners helps support local projects and bring visibility to talent.

In 2023, after more than a decade of shows and artistic collaborations, the team created the Ropestylers Academy.
This marks an important part of the ropestylers academy history.

The turning point came when a group of young jumpers from Normandy, wanting regular training, asked for a structured framework and tools to develop their own training environment.

Rather than following dominant pathways, the team chose to open a free and artistic Double Dutch pathway, supported by its professional network.

Pedagogy

How do we achieve this? Through innovative pedagogy, structured into 8 levels and oriented towards a stage vision:

• Turning & jumping technique

• Safety & progression

• Rhythm & music

• Freestyle & acrobatics

• Choreographic composition

• Staging (Ropestyle)

Each sequence ends with a mini-creation; regular challenges and online resources support progression.

With The Ropestylers, the goal is to create shows and contribute to collective projects.

Flagship offers

Weekly classes, online courses and professional training, built on years of exchanges with leading Double Dutch practitioners.

The Academy now aims to grow and make the practice accessible worldwide — a defining part of the ongoing Ropestylers Academy history.