by Robert Wilkinson
Today is the birthday of one of the greatest dancers ever to hit the silver screen, the amazing Fayard Nicholas. If you want to see a tap dancer considered to be perhaps the greatest in the 20th century, check these out if you want to see some amazing moves!!
Fayard Nicholas (October 20, 1914 – January 24, 2006) was a choreographer, dancer and actor. With his brother Harold (March 27, 1921 – July 3, 2000), these dynamic dancers used a highly acrobatic technique called flash dancing, as well as a high level of artistry and daring innovations. These guys were considered two of the greatest tap dancers of their times.
From Wikipedia, we read that "by 1940, they were in Hollywood and for several decades alternated between movies, nightclubs, concerts, Broadway, television, and extensive tours of Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
The Nicholas Brothers taught master classes in tap dance as teachers-in-residence at Harvard University and Radcliffe... Among their known students are Debbie Allen, Janet Jackson, and Michael Jackson.
Fred Astaire once told the brothers that the 'Jumpin' Jive' dance number in Stormy Weather was the greatest movie musical sequence he had ever seen. In that famous routine, the Nicholas Brothers leapt exuberantly across the orchestra's music stands and danced on the top of a grand piano in a call and response act with the pianist.
Another signature move was to arise from a split without using the hands. Gregory Hines declared that if their biography were ever filmed, their dance numbers would have to be computer generated because no one now could emulate them. Ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov once called them the most amazing dancers he had ever seen in his life."
For your enjoyment and amazement, the Nicholas Brothers!
From Stormy Weather, here are the Nicholas brothers doing a number that’s considered the greatest performance in tap dance history, "The Jumpin' Jive" with Cab Calloway.
Here’s a longer 6+ minute clip leading into the dance sequence, with Bill Robinson performing “I Love Being Black” followed by dozens of dancers in zoot suits and regalia and the Cabster getting wild with "The Jumpin' Jive" right before the Nicholas brothers giving us one for the ages!
When they were kids in 1932, Fayard and Harold tapping out “Pie Pie Blackbird”
From the 1934 movie Kid Millions, an early performance of the brothers tapping to “Mandy”
Still young, here's a clip from 1935 when they were kids! "Tap Dance."
From 1935, here’s a 11 minute short titled An All Colored Vaudeville Show, with Fayard and Harold Nicholas all over the stage, doing flips, cartwheels, and handstands! "The Nicholas Brothers and Adelaide Hall."
From 1936 and still young, an excerpt from the all-black musical The Black Network. Here are Fayard and Harold Nicholas singing and dancing in "Lucky Numbers."
Last year I had a great clip from the Big Broadcast of 1936, featuring the Nicholas Brothers with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson knocking it out of the park doing “Miss Brown to You.” Unfortunately, it’s nowhere to be found this year. So we’ll jump to two of their most famous movies!
From the finale of the 1940 movie Down Argentine Way, the Nicholas Brothers doing the title song, "Down Argentine Way."
In one of their more well-known performances from the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade, here are Dorothy Dandridge and the Nicholas Brothers backed by Glenn Miller doing "Chattanooga Choo Choo."
Here the Nicholas Brothers in 1942 in the movie Orchestra Wives, dance to Glenn Miller’s “I’ve got a Gal in Kalamazoo”
I found it again! From 1977 on the Jacksons’ television show, the brothers crank it up and are joined by a young Michael Jackson in several minutes of great tapping! The Nicholas Brothers and Michael Jackson do the Original Chicken Dance
I gave you this earlier, but found this longer clip that leads into the dance routine. From Stormy Weather, the Cabster with the Nicholas Brothers! “Jumpin’ Jive”
Here’s a great clip with Gregory Hines commenting on what he believes is one of the greatest dance routines in history! Gregory Hines on The Nicholas Brothers performance in “Stormy Weather”
From the 1948 movie The Pirate, Gene Kelly Dances with the Nicholas Brothers
Here’s a 7 minute interview with Fayard Nicholas titled “Mister Nicholas and Mister Astaire”
From the 1981 tribute to Duke Ellington, here’s Harold Nicolas showing us how it’s done! Harold Nicholas Dancing at the Kennedy Center
A great find, definitely worth the watch if you’re into “high flying dancing” and “virtuosity, charm, and athletic grace!” Here’s a 44 minute documentary titled “The Nicholas Brothers Documentary”
We'll close today with a performance from 1965, "The Nicholas Brothers Dance at the Hollywood Palace" Fayard's the one doing the splits at age 50!
Here’s the Nicholas Brothers Website if you want to know more about these amazing dancers!
Born in segregated America, Fayard and his brother lived to be world acclaimed artists, universally respected for their talent. RIP, gentlemen. You certainly raised the bar for all who followed!
© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson
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