Tap dancing legends Fayard (b. 1914) and Harold (1918-2000) Nicholas amazed crowds with their performances in musicals and films from the 30s to the 80s. They performed with Gene Kelly in The Pirate, with Cab Calloway in Stormy Weather, with Dorothy Dandridge (Harold's wife) in Sun Valley Serenade, and with a number of other stars on the stage and on the screen. Author Hill not only guides readers through the brothers' showstopping successes and the repressive times in which their dancing won them universal acclaim, she also offers extensive insight into the history and choreography of tap dancing, bringing readers up to speed on the art form in which the Nicholas Brothers excelled.

About the Author
Constance Valis Hill's articles and reviews have appeared in such publications as Dance Magazine, The Village Voice, and Dance Research Journal. She lives in Albany, New York. Gregory Hines is a world-renowned tap dancer and actor.

Reviews
Patiently, accurately, warmly and quite intelligibly, Constance Valis Hill guides the reader through the Nicholas brothers' career, number by number, positioning them within both white and black theatrical traditions, which she authoritatively delineates. -- Mindy Aloff * The New York Times *
Hill's book, one of the few sustained analyses of tap, supplies the background-minstrelsy, 'class' acts, swing-and, along the way, a history of American racism...It also tells a love story. * The New Yorker *
A natural for dance enthusiasts, this is also essential reading for anyone interested in entertainment history. * Library Journal *



Book Information
ISBN 9780815412151
Author Constance Valis Hill
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Cooper Square Publishers Inc.,U.S.
Publisher Cooper Square Publishers Inc.,U.S.
Weight(grams) 476g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 154mm * 21mm