The Nicholas Brothers, Fayard (1914-2006) and Harold (1921-2000), are often considered the greatest tap dancers of their time. The dancing duo grew up in Philadelphia, sons of musicians who led the orchestra at Philadelphia's Standard Theater. The Brothers spent their time in the theater with their parents, surrounded by the great black Vaudeville acts of the day. Receiving no formal training, Fayard taught himself to dance and sing by watching the performers on stage, and then taught his younger brother Harold and sister Dorothy. The Nicholas Brothers began performing as a team in Philadelphia before making their big break at the Cotton Club in Harlem in 1932. Throughout their careers the Brothers performed on Broadway, in numerous films, on television, and touring throughout the world. The Nicholas Brothers are recognized for their highly acrobatic dancing and for their innovative and original style. They continued to perform together or separately until the 1990s and they received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1991 for lifetime achievement.
Founded in 2007, as a branch office of Dance/USA,
the national service organization for professional dance, Dance/USA Philadelphia
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the dance community in the greater Philadelphia area.
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