Gold Coast school hoping to smash “Nutbush” dance record

MORE than 1700 students, staff, volunteers — and even some tradies — bust a move in the hopes of clinching a world record for most people dancing to Tina Turner’s ‘The Nutbush’. But was it enough?

OH nuts! A Gold Coast school that danced its way to an Australian record yesterday has been left biting its nails while it waits for judges to decide whether it has clinched a world record.

More than 1700 students, staff, grandparents, volunteers and a few tradies from a nearby work site had a shot yesterday at having the most people dance The Twist and The Nutbush.

A.B. Paterson College decided to usher in Queensland Mental Health Week – and the school’s campaign to reduce stigma – by demonstrating community solidarity for their cause in a fun way, putting on the biggest dance party the Coast has seen.

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Nearly 2000 students, staff, parents and more joined in to dance up a storm and try to make it into the history books. Picture Glenn Hampson

The school chased two world records on the oval.

A.B. Paterson College has been told it easily set an Australian record for most people dancing to Chubby Checker’s The Twist, but the Guinness Book of World Records adjudicators have said the results on the Nutbush dance record attempt are going down to the wire.

The record for the most people to dance the iconic 1973 Tina Turner classic was set in June this year at the Big Red Bash music festival in the Simpson Desert just outside of Birdsville with 1719 dancers.

But the college will have to wait for a final count later this week, with confirmation possibly not until next week. Judges, who came up from Sydney, will review video footage of the A.B. Paterson bid.

A.B Paterson College's Toni Kirton is biting her nails waiting to see whether they’ve succeeded. Picture Glenn Hampson

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The school’s director of positive education and leadership, Toni Kirton, said the turnout was enthusiastic and participants were eager to strut their stuff with Nutbush.

“We had grandparents come along and even the tradies working on the site near the school joined in to help us,” Ms Kirton said.

“A.B. Paterson College wants to make mental health a priority, reduce stigma and encourage help seeking and self-care. We have been acknowledging mental health week and world mental health day for the past three years.

“Activities like this are about having fun, combining getting physical and mental health while inviting the community into the conversation.

“Everyone ends up laughing and dancing together on the oval. You just can’t buy a situation like that.”