DATE: Sunday, June 22, 1997                 TAG: 9706240535

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   45 lines

TOURNEY NOT ALL ABOUT WINNING DOUBLE DUTCH CHAMPIONSHIPS PROVIDE TALENT AND A FUN ATMOSPHERE.

You're performing in a glitzy college arena. More than 1,000 people are watching. A world title's at stake.

Pressure?

No sweat, said 9-year-old April Barrett.

``I'm just having fun,'' said Barrett, a two-year double Dutch veteran of Norfolk's Grandville High Steppers during Saturday's 24th annual World Invitational Double Dutch Championships at Norfolk State's Echols Hall.

``It's not quite as intense as the time we performed at halftime of the Toronto Raptors game,'' added Chelsea Simpson, 14, an Ontario native.

Not that Saturday's championships weren't fiercely contested. Many teams, especially those from New York, that cradle of double Dutch, came intent on laying claim to being called the best in the world.

``We won worlds last year, and we expect to do it again,'' said Kahalia Solano of New York's Stanley's Angels.

But double Dutchers quickly become used to performing in front of a crowd. For most, just qualifying for Saturday's tournament already had meant performing in a variety of locations. Philadelphia's Shemica Whaff, for example, has seen doubleDutch take her to Georgia, South Carolina and Maryland in addition to Norfolk, all before her 14th birthday.

So instead of a group of nervous kids trying not to lose, Saturday's event turned out to be a showcase for talented, travel-savvy performers making another stop on a burgeoning double Dutch circuit.

``Pressure? No, no pressure,'' Barnett said. ``Can I go now?''

Although most of the teams came from the United States, the growing popularity of the sport worldwide was evidenced by the participation of teams from Japan, Canada and France.

``It's dance. It's sport. It's spectacular!'' said Dary Gomis, a 22-year-old Paris native. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

BETH BERGMAN/The Virginian-Pilot

April Barrett, center, jumps rope as Latoya Parker, right, and

Shevelle Scott keep her moving during the freestyle segment of the

World Invitational Double Dutch Championships at Norfolk State on

Saturday.

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