{"id":1106,"date":"2022-07-22T17:36:34","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T17:36:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ournewsmag.com\/?p=1106"},"modified":"2022-07-27T21:27:06","modified_gmt":"2022-07-27T21:27:06","slug":"nicholas-brothers-stormy-weather-documentary-garners-high-praise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ournewsmag.com\/index.php\/2022\/07\/22\/nicholas-brothers-stormy-weather-documentary-garners-high-praise\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather to show in Academy Musuem’s Blacks in Cinema exhibit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Savion Glover, Les Twins<\/em> garner high praise <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather<\/em> is nominated as a Best Short Documentary <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Iris Raeshaun<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather<\/em> documentary is currently showing in festivals worldwide, including the LA Shorts International Film Festival<\/a> and will be featured in the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures <\/a>Blacks in Cinema exhibit starting August 21. Already nominated for a Best Short Documentary by the Tribeca Film Festival, the documentary highlights the rise of legendary dancers Harold and Fayard Nicholas to international stardom and how contemporary dance genres such as Break Dancing and Hip Hop, derived from their ingenuity. Still considered among the greatest dancers of all time, the Nicholas Brothers<\/a> were among the first Black entertainers to star in mainstream Hollywood movies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Tony and Cathie Nicholas<\/a>, the son and granddaughter of Fayard Nicholas, hope that audiences learn more about the Nicholas Brothers\u2019 impact on modern dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stormy Weather (1943)\nDirected by Andrew L. Stone\nShown from left: Fayard Nicholas, Harold Nicholas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cThe film portrays The Nicholas Brothers in such a wonderful, wonderful light,\u201d says Tony, who was born in 1945 during the height of his father Fayard\u2019s and Uncle Harold\u2019s careers. Tony came to know some of the most influential artists of the time, including his godfather Bill \u201cBojangles\u201d Robinson, his aunt Dorothy Dandridge, and family friends including Lena Horne, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cThe vision to cast Savion Glover and Les Twins to break down the Nicholas Brothers\u2019 story is exceptional,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cathie Nicholas, artistic director of Nicholas Dance Studio and granddaughter of Fayard Nicholas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tony Nicholas, son of Fayard Nicholas of the famed Nicholas Brothers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Savion Glover, dancer and Tony Award winner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

   Savion Glover<\/a>, considered to be the greatest living tap dancer, narrates Nicholas Brothers: Stormy Weather.<\/strong><\/em>He is a Tony Award winner who has also danced with Sammy Davis Jr., Lon Chaney, and Gregory Hines.  He choreographed the Happy Feet movies and performed as \u201cthe feet\u201d for the main character, Mumble, the penguin. Glover owns the @HooFeRzClub<\/a> where he teaches dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Les Twins<\/a>, considered the greatest dancers of contemporary society, add their originality to the storyline. Les Twins won the million-dollar purse of the 2017 World of Dance competition and has since continued to rise to international fame as dancers, actors, models, and entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cSavion is not only a gem to our Tap world, but to our culture,\u201d says Cathie. \u201cHe\u2019s an incredible gatekeeper.\u201d
   Cathie is the artistic director, choreographer, and master teacher of Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Hip Hop at Nicholas Dance Studio<\/a> in the historic Crenshaw Corridor of Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   <\/strong>\u201cHaving Les Twins pay homage with their own choreography is an example of what the Nicholas Brothers did, perform their own choreography. Les Twins are the most famous contemporary dancers with whom Beyonce chooses to share her stage. When they perform, they perform their own choreography, no one else\u2019s\u2019, and will not change their style for anyone. They\u2019re brothers who \u2018do them\u2019 and that translates on screen,\u201d says Cathie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Les Twins<\/a> and Beyonce<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Moses Boyd<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Music composer Moses Boyd<\/a> infuses the African diaspora with sounds of jazz and percussions synthesized with a drumline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cThe point of the film is to bridge the past to the present and show influences in current day,\u201d<\/strong> says producer Michael Shevloff, \u201cand that extends to the music as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   The original 1943 Stormy Weather<\/em> musical included a brass band accompanying <\/strong>the Nicholas Brothers\u2019 iconic Jumpin\u2019 Jive<\/em> acrobatic dance performance. In one three-and-one-half minute unrehearsed take, the brothers effortlessly flash dance, with splits (sixteen), spins, high jumps, steps, and taps, all while suited, smiling, and not missing a beat, causing fellow-dancer Fred Astaire to call it the greatest dance routine he\u2019d ever seen! They were the apex of the film featuring Lena Horn, Bill \u201cBojangles\u201d Robinson, and Cab Calloway. It was one of only two Hollywood musicals produced with an African American cast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   During a time when African Americans were only cast in uncivilized, subservient roles, or ridiculed in minstrel shows, the Nicholas Brothers refused roles with such depictions. They never forgot where they came from or their parents\u2019 raising them to have pride, self-respect, and to always go out presentable and carry themselves with class. So, they only presented themselves in positive fashion, thereby becoming known for their meticulous attire.  It was one way in which they actively rallied against African Americans being negatively portrayed in films and in life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Tony recalls another incident in which his father pushed back against social norms when a bell caption asked Fayard to \u201cleave the lobby\u201d because African Americans were supposed to be in the back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cTheir names would be just as large on marquees alongside Frank Sinatra\u2019s\u2026and they would be expected to use the back door,\u201d says Tony, \u201cbut they would not tolerate or be subjected to any indignities.  My father responded, \u2018I\u2019ll leave when I finish my drink.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   When the brothers were consulted or asked to provide choreography for films, they weren\u2019t credited for their signature movements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   \u201cThat was the sign of the times,\u201d Tony said. \u201cThey tried to promote the other choreographers, but people knew who really did the work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Glover emphatically agrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n