The Nicholas Brothers

Many people, especially those who are not dancers, are completely unfamiliar with Fayard and Harold Nicholas. However, Fred Astaire went on to say that the dance number the Nicholas brothers performed in the 1943 cinematic picture Stormy Weather “was the greatest movie musical sequence he had ever seen.”

They were children of musicians but also children of vaudeville. They grew up in the south and became known in Philadelphia. Once the Harlem Renaissance and cinema got a hold of their talents, they were quite literally some of the best dancers ever known.

And they were always dressed to the nines. It’s difficult to find a photo of them that didn’t include a jacket. Or a bow tie. Or a pocket square. They were routinely in tuxedos, morning coats or dinner jackets. Their trousers were always full and high in rise and their jackets always nipped at the waist.

If you’ve never seen the dance routine featured in Stormy Weather, it is a treat. Mind you, the brothers’ role in the film is simply this scene, set to show off their incredible talents. Take a peek below. They enter the scene at 1:32 as Cab Calloway performs the intro. Check out their wide shawl collar tailed coats as they leap frog down the stairs.