‘Australian phenomenon’ that has the world baffled revealed

A Canadian woman living in Australia has revealed her “Roman Empire” is a very unique cultural experience that doesn’t happen anywhere around the world.

A Canadian woman living in Australia has revealed her “Roman Empire” is a very unique cultural experience that doesn’t happen anywhere around the world.

Alexandra Tuohey was surprised the entirety of Australia got together and created a line dance to Tina Turn’s Nutbush City Limits - a song that isn’t even Australian.

“If you’re not from Australia and you're like what the f**k are you talking about, I’m talking about the Nutbush,” she said.

“When I started to learn more and more about the Nutbush I became even more and more confused. I’ve never even heard of the song before.

“How can an entire nation decide that it would be appropriate to teach this as part of the Australian curriculum?”

She said she wouldn’t be surprised if when she goes to do her citizenship test if the exam would just be the Nutbush rather than an exam.

A study conducted by Edith Cowan University in Western Australia and the University of South Australia found the Nutbush City Limits dance Aussies know and love was actually created by the New South Wales Education Department.

Jon Stratton, a sociologist from the University of South Australia, said it was essentially created as a teacher’s aid.

“Dances have been used for years as part of physical education and creative arts and it was in that context that the Nutbush was quite literally invented,” he told the ABC.

“It was put together and then distributed through a teachers’ meeting.”

It is believed it has some roots in a dances from the 1950s - the Madison - and that it varies from state to state.

Alexandra Tuohey is a Canadian expat. Picture: Instagram/alexandratuohey_

When it began, there was no evidence Tina Turner, who was behind the smash hit that debuted in 1973, even existed. Even now, outside of Australia, the dance simply does not exist, according to Professor Statton.

“Now, of course, you get all these people on TikTok attempting to do the Nutbush,” he said.

Another academic involved in the research, Panizza Allmark, said it was the perfect dance for children as there was no touching of hands and calling it “pure joy”,

The research started after an episode of Hamish and Andy’s Gap Year saw them visit Turner’s family and asked them to join on the dance but the singer’s family had no clue what they were talking about.

Australians were quick to share their own opinions of the dance, with some saying they don’t even remember learning it. Instead, they simply knew it.

“We also learned about drugs from a giraffe in a van so,” one said, referring to Healthy Harold.

Another social media user commented: “I don’t actually even remember learning it, it’s like it was just pre-installed.”

She was shocked by everyone knowing the Nutbush. Picture: Instagram/alexandratuohey_

“I literally learned how to do the Nutbush in school, like in year two,” another social media user said.

“I’m 38. My parents know it. They’re in their 60s. My 19yo knows it. My 7yo knows it. It’s ingrained. I am, you are, we are Nutbush City Limits,” another declared.

“As an Australian I cannot recall learning the Nutbush … we just … know‍️,” one added.

One social media user said: “We were taught in primary school like actually taken out of class and taken to a big hall to learn it now that I read that back I realise how strange that is.”

“Wait till she learns about Australians collectively adding extra lyrics to Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again by The Angels,” one said.

Others said wait until Alexandra learned how Australians behaved during the song Eagle Rock.