Nicholas Brothers
The "greatest musical number ever filmed" was done in one take because the dancers might have injured themselves if they tried it twice. The Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold) were famous for their "flash dancing" style, which combined jazz, tap, and high-flying acrobatics. In this scene from Stormy Weather, they perform their signature move: rising from a split without using their hands. The staircase finale is pure athleticism. They are landing with their full body weight on their groin muscles, step after step. Despite their incredible talent, they faced significant racism in Hollywood. In many films, their scenes were designed to be "stand-alone" acts unrelated to the plot, so they could be easily cut out when the movie was shown in the American South. Cab Calloway, the bandleader in the scene, was reportedly so excited during the performance that his reactions in the background are 100% genuine. Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov both cited the Nicholas Brothers as their primary inspirations. Harold Nicholas (the younger brother) was so small when they started that he used to dance in his older brother's oversized clothes, creating a signature look.