You can see where a lot of the modern day hip hop dance comes from. These guys were going up on their toes decades before Michael Jackson was born. They also do half the moves in the House Party Kid 'n Play dance. Check out these videos. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zBb9hTyLjfM&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zBb9hTyLjfM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4dtoie1MD9w&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4dtoie1MD9w&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bLJL01VpvbE&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bLJL01VpvbE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kIQq1j1-AQU&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kIQq1j1-AQU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> The dancing starts at about the 5:00 mark on the last video.
Here are a couple of more. One of which just talks about the greatness of the Nicholas Brothers Stormy Weather performance. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ifk9paFSyuk&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ifk9paFSyuk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aHG3SDZw3tk&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aHG3SDZw3tk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
One more. Check out the backflip off the wall into the splits. The dancing doesn't start until 4:20 into the clip. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fFv_PoZ2iP0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fFv_PoZ2iP0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> PS if you think it's just tap dancing, and you don't like tap, then you are missing out. This isn't your run of the mill tap dance. Just watch the whole first video, and then decide whether to watch more or not. It's seriously amazingly musical as well as athletic. There is nothing like that, and as I said you can see where a lot of modern era hip hop comes from in their dances.
I'd be on there too except you guys all heard of me I'll let the no names have their fun via youtube videos
I almost feel bad having never heard of these guys before, but I'm glad I can appreciate something Fred Astaire apparently said was the greatest musical sequence he had ever seen because I thought that Stormy Weather routine (first vid) was incredible. When I saw them doing what they were doing at the 2:27 mark of that video, I "ouch'ed". These guys are incredible. Still sucks I'd never heard of them until now. Thanks for posting.
Nicholas brothers were arguably greatest tap dancers of all time. Michael and Janet Jacksons were listed as their students: http://www.nicholasbrothers.com/index.htm Nicholas brothers also danced with MJ on the 1977 Jacksons show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eppLgX87v7Y
better late than never.. I've known of and studied their dancing since I can remember.. the connection to Michael Jackson is of no surprise to me.. he was quite aware of the abundance of dance talent already displayed in the 1920s, 30s etc.. even before cinema..
The only reason I knew of the movie "Stormy Weather" was because of Lena Horne's song of the same name. I just realized that was Cab Calloway at the beginning of the Nicholas Brothers' routine in that movie. Sweet.
I think there's a longer version with the whole Cab Calloway song on it. It's pretty cool if you want to check that out on youtube as well.
thanks for posting. just curious what spurred you to post these videos now. was there something on TV about them recently?
My parents put me on the Nicholas Brothers years ago....amazing dancers! Stormy Weather is one of their favorite movies.
