"The Greatest Dance Scene in Movie History"

A movie poster for the 1943 film "Stormy Weather", featuring the Nicholas Brothers

The Nicholas Brothers are a dance team fondly remembered by those old enough to have seen them live. But they are often overlooked today. But their incredible, acrobatic style is unique. This dance sequence from the 1943 film "Stormy Weather" is considered to be one of their masterpieces. In fact, Fred Astaire called it "the greatest dance scene in movie history". Here's the start of that famous dance, where the Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold) leap over the band members of the Cab Calloway Orchestra:

 

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This is a thrilling part of the dance sequence, where the Nicholas Brothers jump over two sections of the orchestra, leap to a split on the floor and then continue their routine:

 

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After their incredible choreography over the orchestra, the brother leap to center stage, where they continue their routine, running up the center staircase and proceeding with a complex series of steps that includes a series of splits. Remember this scene, because they will replicate it in this routine's remarkable conclusion:

The brothers then go from the stage to the top of pianist Bennie Payne's piano and then back to the main floor, executing a series of complicated tap steps throughout:

After the curtains open on the stage, the Nicholas Brothers culminate their performance with a series of splits in a large centerstage staircase which has to been seen to be believed:

The climax of this dance, again featuring that elaborate staircase, needs no words. It still astonishes, almost 80 years after it was filmed.