While on tour the brothers saw the great European ballet companies and began to incorporate classical forms into their dance. They refined this technique under the famous ballet master, George Balanchine, who incorporated their act into the 1937 Broadway show, Babes in Arms.

During the ‘40s the brothers took their act around the world and appeared in several Hollywood musicals. Unfortunately the racial barriers of the time prevented their interacting with white co-stars, but their phenomenal routines were the highlight of movies such as Orchestra Wives (1942) where they danced to Glenn Miller’s orchestra. On Broadway they starred in St. Louis Woman (1946), an all-black musical, where Harold introduced the now classic “Come Rain or Come Shine” with co-star Ruby Hill.

Their last film together was The Pirate (1948) where they broke the color barrier and danced with Gene Kelly. After Fayard retired, Harold moved to France and continued a solo career. The brothers won a long list of awards, and in 1992 A&E presented a television special based on their careers, The Nicholas Brothers: We Sing and We Dance.

- Sandra Burlingame