Nicholas Brothers

The Nicholas Brothers were a legendary entertainment duo consisting of Fayard and Harold Nicholas. They were masters of various dance techniques between the 1930s and 1950s. Many historians and dancers consider them the greatest tap dancers in history. They were most famous for a high-energy style called "flash dancing." This technique combined the rhythmic precision of tap dance with ballet and intense acrobatics. Their performances were defined by soaring leaps and highly expressive use of their arms and hands.

Their unique dance mechanism relied on a hybrid of movement styles. They integrated the footwork of tap with the grace of ballet and the physical stunts of acrobatics. One of their most famous signature moves involved leapfrogging down a wide flight of stairs. As they moved down, they would complete every single step by landing in a split. They also possessed the strength to rise from a split position without using their hands. This combination of strength and rhythm created a visual spectacle that was in high demand during the jazz era.

The brothers had very different paths to their professional success. Fayard was born in 1914 in Mobile, Alabama, and Harold was born in 1921 in North Carolina. They grew up in Philadelphia as the sons of musicians. Their mother, Viola, was a pianist, and their father, Ulysses, was a drummer. Fayard had no formal training and taught himself by imitating professional entertainers. He eventually taught his younger brother, Harold, who idolized him. They originally performed as "The Nicholas Kids" alongside their sister, Dorothy.

Their professional career accelerated rapidly during the Harlem Renaissance. In 1932, when Harold was 11 and Fayard was 18, they became featured performers at the Cotton Club in Harlem. They danced to fast jazz tempos, such as the song "Bugle Call Rag." During this time, they worked with famous orchestras led by Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. Their talent caught the attention of producer Samuel Goldwyn. He invited them to California to appear in the 1934 film "Kid Millions," marking their entry into Hollywood movies.

The brothers reached a peak of cinematic fame in 1943. They appeared in the musical film "Stormy Weather," performing the routine "Jumpin' Jive." This routine is often cited as one of the greatest dance sequences ever filmed. During the performance, they leapt across orchestra music stands and danced on top of a grand piano. Remarkably, the routine was filmed in one take and was unrehearsed. The choreographer, Nick Castle, told them to simply "do it" without rehearsal. This approach relieved Harold, who wanted to avoid repeating the rigorous routine multiple times.

Throughout their long careers, the brothers achieved significant global recognition. They performed on Broadway in the 1936 "Ziegfeld Follies" and worked with choreographer George Balanchine. They toured extensively through Europe, Africa, and Latin America. In 1948, they gave a Royal Command Performance for King George VI at the London Palladium. In 1991, they received the Kennedy Center Honors for their sixty years of achievement. Their legacy was further celebrated in the 1992 documentary "We Sing & We Dance."

The influence of the Nicholas Brothers extends to modern pop culture and academia. They served as teachers-in-residence at Harvard University and Radcliffe. Their students include famous performers such as Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Debbie Allen. Even the legendary ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov called them the most amazing dancers he had ever seen. The dancer Gregory Hines even suggested that their moves were so difficult that they might one day require computer generation to be emulated. Their work remains a vital connection between jazz, ballet, and acrobatic performance.