Discover the Magic: Top 8 Fun Facts About the Legendary Nicholas Brothers!

1. Cat-like Tap Crusaders

They danced like your cat playing Twister on a hot tin roof with a double shot of espresso: The Nicholas Brothers' acrobatic tap skills made them "the greatest tap dancers of their day", their electrifying performance in the 1943 movie Stormy Weather, alongside Cab Calloway, featuring mind-blowing flips, splits, and toe-tapping on pianos and orchestra stands, earned them a celebrated spot in dance history.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Capeless Dancing Superheroes

Before there were superheroes, they were the capeless tap dancing crusaders who defied the laws of gravity, leaping fearlessly over one another's heads while rhythmically conquering staircases: The Nicholas Brothers easily pulled off an incredible unrehearsed dance routine in "Stormy Weather" (1943), which the director Irving Cummings almost cut due to racial discrimination. Despite the setback, their breathtaking performance was captured in one take and continues to be admired over 75 years later.
Source => mymodernmet.com

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=> Fun Facts about Dance

3. Stairway to Split Heaven

Stairway to (leg) splits heaven: The Nicholas Brothers raised eyebrows and heart rates as they hopped, skipped, and split-jumped down flights of stairs in their mesmerizing movie scenes. In one iconic "Stormy Weather" (1943) sequence, the dynamic duo leaped frog-style over each other, landing a split on each step, all in one take, making even Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Maurice and Gregory Hines, and Mikhail Baryshnikov tip their hats in awe.
Source => washingtonpost.com

4. Tap Titans Extraordinaire

Dancing Duo Extraordinaire or the Tap Titans? The Nicholas Brothers surely had smoother moves than a freshly waxed bowling alley: Fayard and Harold danced their way into history, sharing the stage with legends like Sammy Davis Jr. and Duke Ellington, and were even the subject of a tribute performance by fellow tap icons Chuck Green, Jimmy Slyde, and Sandman Sims at the 1987 Kennedy Center Honors (although the brothers themselves didn't receive individual honors).
Source => kennedy-center.org

5. Star on the Walk of Fancy Footwork

They say if you can make it on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, you can make it anywhere – especially if you're doing the Moonwalk, the Charleston, or some other fancy footwork: The Nicholas Brothers, a dynamic dancing duo known for their leaps, flips, and splits, posthumously earned their very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994, acknowledging their extraordinary impact on the world of dance through film, stage, and beyond, all while globe-trotting to continents like Latin America, Africa, and Europe – their star still sparkles at 7083 Hollywood Blvd to this day.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Acro-Tap Prodigies

They put the "acro" in "acrobatic" and the "tap" in "prodigious talent": The Nicholas Brothers dazzled audiences with their sky-high full splits and gravity-defying elegance, inspiring iconic dancers like Fred Astaire and Savion Glover. Overcoming racial hurdles, they became film sensations, captivating viewers with their suave style and handsome charm. Their style was dubbed as classical tap, and they danced alongside Gene Kelly in 1948's "The Pirate." Alas, no evidence supports a direct role in breaking Hollywood's color barrier, but their artistry certainly left a permanent impression on the dance world.
Source => theledger.com

7. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hollywood's Dancers

In a world where Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hollywood joined forces to choreograph a dance of fame and discrimination: The Nicholas Brothers faced racial discrimination despite their undeniable talent and popularity, often getting cast as guest artists and having their scenes cut in the American South; but, they kept on dancing till the curtain closed for good with Harold at the age of 79 in 2000, and Fayard at 91 in 2006, leaving a tap-tastic legacy of unforgettable performances.
Source => upworthy.com

8. Swiss Army Legs of Dance

When the Nicholas Brothers stepped into the scene, their legs were like Swiss Army knives – foldable, versatile, and jaw-droppingly impressive: In the iconic movie Stormy Weather (1943), they leaped down a flight of stairs, landing in perfect splits on each step – and nailed it all in a single take, setting the bar stratospherically high for dance aficionados everywhere.
Source => memory.loc.gov