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Overview
When it comes to busting a move, there's always a new trend around the corner. Some dance styles, like ballroom, never go out of style. Others come out of nowhere and take over nightclubs; think disco, the Nutbush and voguing.
Add tutting to the latter bunch, even if you haven't heard of it yet. The centrepiece of TUT, a new urban dance project by Shaun Parker & Company at Art & About Sydney, it's about to become Australia's next big dance craze.
So what the heck is tutting? Tutting features highly intricate and rhythmic patterns of the hands, fingers and arms, and was derived from the hieroglyphics drawn on the ancient tomb walls of King Tutankhamun. Yes, your high school history lessons might actually pay off on the dance floor, but there's more to it than that. As Parker explains, it also has "throwback references to old-school hiphop, voguing, and locking and popping." And, it "really celebrates the unique individually of each dancer. Tutting is almost like a 'fingerprint' of each dance artist."
But tutting isn't as ancient as it sounds. Many sources point to choreographer Mark "King Bugaloo Tut" Benson, who made tutting popular in the late '70s.
No wonder Parker calls it "mind-blowing" — and given that the award-winning choreographer has worked with Sydney Theatre Company, Chunky Move and Opera Australia, he knows what he's talking about. Parker came across tutting while researching street dance styles in 2008. After being introduced to the style by one of his principal dancers, he was so impressed that he was working on tutting routines with teenage street dancers in Western Sydney soon after.
Then, in 2009, YouTube marked tutting videos as a viral trend among amateurs. Inevitably, big time choreographers got amongst it. Here's San Francisco dancer PNUT tutting:
You may have seen him tutting with Taylor Swift in the 'Shake It Off' video:
Keen to get tutting? Not only can you watch this new sensation sweep the streets at free performances in the Dixon Street and Pitt Street malls across April, but you can be a part of it too. Head to Parker's website to apply to be involved, and even check out a handy tutorial if you need help getting into the groove.
See TUT by Shaun Parker & Company at Art and About Sydney on April 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22, or visit the event website for more information.
Image courtesy of City of Sydney. Photo by Daniel Boud.