The Nicholas Brothers were one of the
most successful 'flash Acts' Tap dance duo's of all time.
They were the first 'Black Act' to be hired to a major movie
studio. The Brothers style was very acrobatic, energetic,
smooth and cool. They started dancing on Stage at a very
young age.
Fayard would teach Harold the routines
they would do and in 1931 made their professional debut.
By the next year they were already performing at the famous Cotton
Club in Harlem. They were the originator's of the famous
'Flying Splits'. They could sing almost as well as they
danced.
The Bros. made their first movie short,
'Pie Pie Blackbird' in 1932 and their first major movie
was in 'Down Argentine Way' in 1940. They made their first
Broadway debut in the 1936 'Ziegfeld Follies'. They starred
in part with then eighteen year old Dorothy
Dandridge whom Harold would later marry in 'Orchestra Wives' to a song called Chattanooga Choo-Choo ( Pictured.) The Nicholas brothers
only competition was the famous 'Berry Brothers'. Carying on the tradition of the Nicholas brothers are the Nicholas Sisters who are the Nicholas Brothers Granddaughters. There were also a London based Nicholas Sisters around 1945.
