Month of March Play-Along Videos Featuring Female Solo Artists: Tina Turner
Get ready for a whirlwind March with Play-Along Videos celebrating rockstar female solo artists! Feeling the groove? Share the love by treating me to a virtual coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech/
This week, we're diving into the world of iconic Tina Turner, inspired by Lisa Wichman’s NJMEA session on “Global Grooves” featuring folk dances worldwide. Let's rock out to Tina's self-penned hit “Nutbush City Limits,” a tribute to her rural roots in Nutbush, Tennessee. Fun fact: Everyone from Bob Seger to Brian Johnson has taken a swing at covering this Tina classic!
Nutbush Dance
The line dance known as the “Nutbush” gained popularity in Australia during the 1970s, performed to a specific song. Tina Turner's longtime manager and friend, Roger Davies, who hails from Australia, frequently toured with her there. This dance trend emerged during the disco era and continues to be a favorite even today. Numerous world records have been set for the largest group performing the “Nutbush”. In August of 2023, 6,549 festival attendees gathered at the Mundi Mundi Bash to break the Australian Book of Records, surpassing the 5,838 participants who danced it in the Simpson Desert in Outback Queensland in July of 2023.
The dance steps are quite simple, allowing those unfamiliar with them to easily pick them up by observing other dancers. As highlighted by blogger Ben on Tina Turner's website blog, a key factor in the song and dance's popularity is the song's extended introduction before the lively dance beat kicks in. This gives people seated the chance to rise and hit the dance floor, allowing all dancers to position themselves in a grid formation!
Rhythm Play-Along
This rhythm play-along features a dance sequence performed midway through the song. While the rhythm concepts are straightforward, it is recommended to utilize these props to review both the rhythms and dance steps. I have included a video by Peter Gaston from the YouTube Channel "Dance Movies Music Art" demonstrating the original dance and various alternatives, from a modified version to one without jumping. In the video, both Peter Gaston and Erik Chen will showcase the dance moves.
Manipulatives
This interactive activity is suitable for even the youngest elementary students because of its simple rhythms and steady beat. Additionally, older elementary students can also enjoy it as it includes dance moves.
To grasp the rhythm patterns, and the dance routine, and discover interesting facts about Tina Turner, I have prepared a slideshow that you can make a copy of and customize as you wish.
Resources
Coming Soon!
Mark your calendar for next week, another thrilling play-along session with another sensational solo female artist awaits!
