American choreographer, dancer and actor FAYARD NICHOLAS (1914-2006) was born on October 20.

Fayard Nicholas was an American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer best known as the elder half of the legendary Nicholas Brothers, one of the most celebrated tap-dance teams in history. Born in Mobile, Alabama, and raised largely in Philadelphia, he learned to dance by watching vaudeville performers while his musician parents worked in theater orchestras. With his younger brother Harold, he developed a dazzling style that fused tap dancing, jazz movement, ballet-like grace, and breathtaking acrobatics, earning acclaim at Harlem’s Cotton Club and in Hollywood musicals such as Stormy Weather (1943), Sun Valley Serenade (1941), and Orchestra Wives (1942). Admired by fellow artists ranging from Fred Astaire to Mikhail Baryshnikov, Nicholas helped redefine American dance and remained an influential figure in the performing arts long after his years as an active performer.

Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers - Jumpin’ Jive (1943)

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