Berry Brothers Dance Act

[carterkushbaby]

those are my great uncles right there. proud of my history. happy black history month all

[strawberries404]

Whoo! I've never seen anything like that before. Brothers used to be talented and disciplined enough to do stuff like that. It kills me to see what a lot of them are doing with their greater freedoms today, ie hanging out on the corner, rotting in jail, and making a living making a mockery of black people as a rapper. It's shame.

[GatewayGhettoProd]

I like the way the last brother trips on the steps on the way out... after all that fantastic dancing, lol!

[justcogitating]

Back then they had the Berry Brothers, now we have the Jo Bros.  I feel totally gypped.

[lascuadras]

Not bad for St James's Street wine merchants.

[ddchil41]

Stupendous!!!

[sylvia585]

simply amazing

[SumOfSquaresMusic]

WHOA!!!! Watch the whole thing!!!

[Pretty92Boy]

Nice

[HAC1911NUPE]

i think EVERY nupe should STUDY THIS!!!

[baldevis]

HAH..........let's see those Wayans brothers try THAT!!!!!

[chinamooncake]

OUCH!



[ElusvOptmst]

They are a bit wilder than The Nicholas Brother, but very bit as talented.

[CindyOCindy723]

Damn--these guys are wild! The jump off the balcony was positively insane--Bravo!!!

[poppalarge68]

Austin POWER-BALLS.. Because, i'm sure their nuts were sore as hell afterwards..

[brwneyesaz]

Wow great moves. I bet they had arthritis later in life too. Jumping like that takes a toll on the body. I cannot believe they jumped of the balcony. It was amazing see this stunt. Dancers are athletes indeed. Thanks for the video.

[EssenceOfTruth]

I have watched this a billion times and I am still amazed! I just...am so proud of my people, I swear. LOL!

[radiator0]

wow fantastic but i bet those guys suffered with bad joints in later life, anybody know what year this is?

[Rainy5062002]

THAT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!! And I thought only the Nicholas brothers could do that !

[finegoldtube]

I thought Sammy Davis Jr. Could. Damn

[87654321and12345678]

now.. how are they not in pain... -.- i would be

[Sololobo2112]

Cappa's ain't got nothing on these dude and that jump was wwoooooowwwww!!!

[tsavin2]

O_o

[rickslick730]

ladies and gentlemen, please don't try this at home!!!!! you will hurt your self.

[blkchk]

HOLY CRAP!!! that leap off the balcony. How could they walk after that? AND do another split!!!???

[JColeM7785]

what came first? this or stormy weather?

[Rainy5062002]

@JColeM7785 thats what I wanna know too!

[JColeM7785]

what's a Kappa when you've seen this? They should have made them honorary members a LONG time ago.

[leoncarlo]

Super wooooooow...!!!!

[rpaul247]

ouch!!!!!!!!!! my balls....

[DjDedan]

one of the greatest flash acts - i heard there was a battle between the berry brothers and the nicholas brothers... love to see that video!

[JColeM7785]

@DjDedan Me too! Does anyone have that?

[scooterpiepiano]

OK That was awesome!!! Just one thing, They did jump from the balconey...8 feet at least, but they did jump THROUGH the railing. Slow it down and check it out. Just a little old fashioned "Trick Photography". Not to take anything away from the Berry Bros. They were great. Just know what you are seeing. Freeze at 1:34, check that... 

[DONTnameYOURkidZELDA]

@scooterpiepiano There's no trick photography about it. They all just busted through the rigged railing. You can even see all the pieces fly apart and onto the stage when they do it. Very cool, nonetheless.

[Damez76]

The Nicholas Brothers and these guys started the Dance Battle scene.

[freein2339]

That was great....

[madmonkeykungfu36]

merci wa6tq pour cette vidéo,ils sont incroyables ces types!!!

[Charisse709]

Brilliant! Outstanding!!! :)

[megadork456]

There is a word for this: TALENT! I dare you to find this kind of awesomeness today.

[ejoe]

GET UP OFF THEM!!! Classic skill. Surreal!

[orangabug]

One word- DAMN! btw, My grandfather's name is also James Berry... wonder if he was keeping this a secret???

[Kingofbama]

@orangabug thats funny..my grandpas name is also James Berry

[dal4018]

@orangabug There's only one way to know?????????

[e22378]

he trips a little at the end 1:47

[ArchyZeeChris]

no stunt doubles there :)

[mrdynamitehee]

these guys and the nicholas brothers were the real show dancers. the could do everything fred astaire could do (and better) whereas astaire couldn't do a 5th of what they could do.  they never got the reconition the deserved....

[sensationsuperthrust]

@mrdynamitehee

you are right, i mean im not to blame fred astaire (or the black vs white debate it implys mostly) but in todays society its important to revise our cultural roots and give credits to the "originators" that been enriching our lives... thanks to the internet and some dedicated educators all around the globe i can see indications of such a renaissance. e.g. all those youtube footage to this subject or even documentarys like "everything remains raw". overall a good process imho

[betterguyX]

This is truly spectacular! Incredible.

[crazydaysful]

Dang, they are good!

[imallwayzright]

THE BRITH OF THE BLACK COLLEGE STEPPERS

[Christineadye1]

ITS WONDERFUL

[maria580]

WOW! those brothers hit the splits from off the high stair way! MAGNIFICENT!

[dal4018]

@maria580 If they did those moves today they would have every woman in Hollywood wanting them to father their children.

[Christineadye1]

i love it 

[davisismail1comcast]

Off the chain thats all I got to say these cats were incredible, I have heard and seen the Nicholas Brothers in classic old Films, but never heard of the Berry Brothers until know. It just goes to show you that there is more great talent that does not get the exposure they deserve. May these cats come back in another life, just incredible, no disrespect to the Nichols Brothers they were no light weights by any measure them selves.

[bluenotejazz]

Jesus H Christ

[SingItGrl]

WOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!

[OneThousandTimesOver]

They must have THIGHS OF STEEL.

[dal4018]

@OneThousandTimesOver You got that right if anybody tried that balcony move today they would be paralyzed

[dal4018]

@OneThousandTimesOver The five ppl who disliked this footage must be fans of the Nicholas Brothers its understandable lol.

[kashiaroundtheworld]

@OneThousandTimesOver

AND groins of steel!!! O_o

[dal4018]

@OneThousandTimesOver FIve ppl disagree who pushed the dislike button.

[HardcoreJungFunk]

amazing, you need to show kids the last bit! incredible, its all so natural too, they make it look easy!

[Blackjesus3]

OMFGGGGGGGGGGGG WTH IM SPEECHLESS THATS JUST SICK

[mazaratialbum]

my dad had told me that the berry bros. were the only trio that could basically beat the nicholas bros. out and i can see why....

i won't either above the other, they were equal.....i can't do any of these dances, lol....black folks back then were a lot more talented and a lot tougher in a much tougher era for our ppl, i thank them for paving the way. : )

[patkko12]

@mazaratialbum The Nicholas Bros had them beat dnt get me wrong there great but the the nichoals Bros hands down is the best

[dal4018]

@patkko12 If the Nicholas Bros beat them it wasn't by much after seeing them jump from the balcony.

[dal4018]

@mazaratialbum As stated before if the Nicholas Bros beat them it wasn't by much after seeing that gravity defying jump from the balcony.If somebody did that today they would be in traction 4 ever!!!!!!!

[strawberries404]

@mazaratialbum Both groups were darned good. I can't say one was better than the other. They were both marvels to behold.

[fredjmp]

Fantastic!

[TheReturnOfStephan1]

OMG!!

I wasn't ready for the balcony jump!!

Thanks for posting.:)

[hajune]

The famous contest at the Cactus Club with Cab Calloway's band proved how good they were. That beat the great Nicholas Brothers in a renowned contest. The Nicholas Brothers were flawless and the Berry Brothers knew they had to pull something off special. They created the unbelievable 2 story jump and did it perfectly! A very long standing ovation was the result. 75 years later it's still talked about. Wish it was filmed.

[hajune]

If I get the desire and energy I will post some history involving the Berry Brothers. I wonder if they were on Dancing With The Stars what would happen. I think they would be mega stars.

[dal4018]

@hajune If they were on "Dancing With The Stars" and did these exact same moves today women would be lining up at their homes telling them they will be the fathers of their children

[ddsharper]

@hajune they were megastars.

[Bludrawz]

@ BlackSunsu I made that comment as recently the members of that organization were going around saying that pretty much everyone who had a cane or used a cane belonged to their org./ A brother of mine saw the video and I shared it with him, hence the comment. Unless you're in (which u may be--i dunno), then u wldn't see where i'm coming from. Did I offend you?

[BlackSunsu]

@Bludrawz 

No, I wasn't offended by your comment at all. What I've seen is two Organizations [Kappa and Sigma] going at each other throats on who has the cane first. However, there are many issues with the so-called African-American people that canes ought to be unimportant. As for me being in any fraternal fold, I'll keep that to myself but when I become one...I'll keep in mind to inform you which one I'm affiliated with.

[ddsharper]

@BlackSunsu Why should canes be unimportant and what issues are you referring to?

[BlackSunsu]

@ddsharper

Before I'll get into these matters with you, I would like for you to answer these questions please.

1. Are you affiliated with Kappa Alpha Psi or Phi Beta Sigma?

2. What induced you to ask this?

Thanks in advance.

[hajune]

What does 3 times Michael Jordon equal Answer: The Berry Brothers

[hajune]

I believe they they were the most acrobatic dancers ever. The Nicholas Brothers had a wider variety of moves and were more percise but these guys did things that were almost super human. I wonder who would come in second if they were on America's Got Talent . We know who would come in first!

[Bludrawz]

Bet the Kappas/Nupes say that they(Berry Brothers) were all Kappas/Nupes on this one...hmmm

[BlackSunsu]

@Bludrawz

What induced you to type that reply for and was that really necessary?

[SavannahXoXoPeace]

I SWEAR 2 GOD WARREN IS MY GODFATHER

[BBBauer]

wow. how old is this footage?

thyank God for youtube, we get to experience these amazing clips of history...

[sickkat44]

even the nicholas brothers never did a split from that height!

[dal4018]

Sickkat maybe they did it and it wasn't recorded on film.

[sickkat44]

considering how talented the nicholas bros. were, i'm sure if they had this in their repatoire they would have used it in a film at one time or another. both acts are great, just different nuances. every act had their schtick. berrys had the cane, nicholas' had the splits

[dal4018]

Point taken your right everyone had their own way of doing something.

[dal4018]

WOW THEY ARE GREAT

[washingtonkay]

I tried doing that leap off of a ledge into split this weekend..

I died..

[dal4018]

Hey Kay how long did it take you to recover?????????

[ozzdubar]

Ridiculous! Beautiful skill!

[nochokin]

great footage

[hajune]

They jumped the balcony and landed doing a perfect split while the other brother finished his routine just as Cab's band finished. They received a standing ovation that lasted a very long time.They beat the great Nicholas Brothers in a contest that BELONGED TO THE AGES. The Berry Brothers were a class act off and on the stage. They became ordained ministers just as their good friend Eleanor Powell ( The Queen Of Tap) became. Elly got them in a movie she did .They did an amazing routine in it

[dal4018]

@hajune Do you have footge of that classic dance contest betweenm them and The Nicholas Brothers????? please say that you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hajune]

@dal4018 No cameras were around. It would have been the ultimate dance clip of al time. The legend lives on though it was almost 70 years since the event took place.

[dal4018]

Thanks June too bad if someone had footage they could make SERIOUS FORTUNE off that video!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dal4018]

June as stated before if these guys had done this routine today they would be on every tv show in this country and women from all walks of life would be asking them to have children with them!!!!!!!!

[hajune]

@hajune

No footage was ever taken,but this story has lived for over 70 years. It is our lose. A movie should have been made. Too bad.

[hajune]

In 1938 the Berry Brothers competed against the Nicholas Brothers held at the Cactus Club with Cab Calloway performing. The Nicholas Brothers went first and were flawless and the apparent winner. The 3 Brothers got together and decided to attempt the impossible. Two of them were to jump the tall balcony over the band playing below while 1 of the brothers was doing high brow summersaucts. They pulled off what many to this day consider the greatest acrobatic dance stunt ever done.Continue above

[abaebae1]

amazing jump

[innit27]

its like a forerunner to parkour freerunning when they do that amazing leap at the end

[PutOnASweater]

Oh Yeah! I can do that...in my dreams!

[breakbeatghost]

wow!

[Katmandooful]

I'd never heard of them before. Thank you for opening my eyes! WONDERFUL!

[amensupremera]

WOW!

[nobelhung]

They sailed about 20-30 feet in the air land in teh splits and keep it movin! goota respect these cats!

[soulbrotherlegendary]

This is the history Right Here...the most slept on Cats in the Hoofing Game!!!! No Berry Brothers No Soul Brothers

[jshakka]

wow

[crunk617]

Classic

[soulhoney56]

Not only do they dance in time - they seem to catch the canes in time !! ASTONISHING !!

[ndiaye28]

What in the world! Amazing!!!!All I can say is thank GOD for technology so that we have the ability and honor to watch real talent...

[PSYCHABOO]

We're not worthy, We're not worthy. Folks just don't dance like they used to.

[dopestarinc9868]

you got served!!!!!!

[djtblizzle]

I CANNOT believe tht they were able to go into splits after leaping that far off of the ground!!! I would have torn both ACL's, dislocated my hip, andprobably broken my ankle!! Absolutley amazing things that the human body is capable of!!

[dal4018]

@djtblizzle Hey Blizzle join the club they would probably have to bury both of us after trying the gravity defying moves.

[dal4018]

@djtblizzle Hey you want to see some competition check out the Nicholas Brothers in "Stormy Weather"

[blackfalconsungodzzz]

Dammmm that was tight 'classsic."

[poppalarge68]

Got - Damn..!!! Thier balls must be made out of steele or concrete.. That hurts me just by looking at that crazy move.. Ouch...!!!

[ladyvolsfans]

PHENOMANAL

[ymmmmij]

Awsome clip, Thanks

[funkstagazza]

what the music called the y .are dancing its so cool.

[STATUSthesleepers]

i wouldve became a woman after that jump off the balcony

[dal4018]

@STATUSthesleepers hey stauts your not the only one would have had a sex change after seeing these gravity defying moves.

[tv205]

ultimate human perfection... true gods veiled in excellence

[Rabbit0414]

OMG we gotta learn diis dance 4 da program at ORAPHS! ugh

[jelboysvw]

I used the same technique to spin and drop into the splits too.....This only becomes demanding when you leap from a balcony and land.

It brings tears to my eyes every time I watch this clip....but brilliant nevertheless.

[jelboysvw]

Truely amazing talents

I jumped into the splits during the seventies when I was a teenager and tore a chunk out of my pelvis...which was utter agony and I ended up in hospital for 4 weeks.

This makes me appreciate how good they were.

[Dworship07]

I just noticed the funniest thing. After all this amazing moves and splits, at the end when their walking off THE LAST BERRY TRIPS ON THE STEP!!! Now I dont know if that was part of the plan or something but I found that funny as hell!

[mattman747]

that flying split they did off the balcony was PHENOMANAL!!!!!!!

[telecaster1963]

not of this world.

[PreacherofLove]

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!

[JWZ030]

Black People Where Always Good Dancers!

We have that in our blood & it's our talent!

[gtlfb]

How the hell did they keep those canes twirling?

[thegroupharmonyalley]

And...imagine sitting in the audience right there where they were twirling, and if one of them slipped up and someone got injured by a cane...

Christine Vitale

The Group Harmony Alley

Sundays 6pm to 9pm - EASTERN

89.1/FM-WFDU Teaneck, NJ

Streaming live on the web

A foray into the roots of the R&B/doo-wopp historical experience.

[virtue737]

ouch!!! LoL

(that was amazing)

[GrissomLovesSara]

AMAZING!

[bolohorn]

Man!! They jumped from the freaking balcony!!! and landed in the splits.....Then they got up and smiled!!

[dal4018]

@bolohorn Hey Bolohorn if they did these moves today as stated before women would be following them home wanting them to have their children.

[dal4018]

@bolohorn I SAW THIS BEFORE AND JUST THE THOUGHT OF THEM ATTEMPTING THOSE GRAVITY DEFYING SPLITS MADE ME SCREAM OUT IN AGONY!!!!!!

[dal4018]

@bolohorn If they did that balcony move today not only would women chase them home they would probably beat them there and tell them YOU WILL BE THE FATHER OF MY CHILD!!!!!!!!!!!!

[blueskys058]

Oh my...what a jump! ....and all body parts still intact....Amazing!!! Wooooooo

[SapphPhire]

Woah! How did they do that incredible leap without injuring something? Incroyable!

[MarkAnthonyJenkins]

Todays dancers don't have nothing on these guys

[fourpreps]

That jump at the end was insane. Wow!!

[drshagstein]

Wow!! That, my friends, is talent on loan from God. I'm speechless. That final jump at the end was miraculous even for them. I've never seen anything like it. The Berry Brothers were nothing short of stupendous.

[terrydavis87]

I have never saw a split like that in my life! I do not think I ever will.

[gfaman7]

These brothers are working it! Reminds me of how much they had to work at finding unique and powerful performances because they didn't get to be seen as much as their counterparts. Kelly and Astair idolized these cats! (as quiet as it is kept) But they couldn't do a balcony split like these brothers! Thanks for the post and the memories!

[swingprof]

The Berry Brothers were an amazing example of flashi dancing, and for those of you who are concerned about their health, you should be! Fayard Nicholas said that Warren Berry wound up with a corn on his butt from those hard landings and he also ended up damaging his hip to the point that it was surgically FUSED to prevent further damage. So yeah, killer dancers, but woe to those who want to follow suit...

[dbd1353]

Mickleplum, I too used to do splits alot, both in tap, and Greek Dancing of all things..Although they do more leaps, backbends and drops, but damn nothing like this shit..My knees hurt just watching this..My hips are ok, but i have bad feet....Damn, what a great video and great example of "Flash Dancing"...Great stuff..

[Melmeasy]

If you look carefully at the split from the balcony, it looks like the Berry brother on the right landed in a split without using his hands.

[kj1919]

Oh my God......that last split was sick...

[ebonyguy69]

freekin hellz bellzz u right there .. i wouldny try that at home crist .. the height was just crazy lol

[nakivad]

Stupefying. Show me someone on MTV these days who can do moves with that level of polish, athleticism, and overall skill: ALL IN ONE TAKE, ON ONE CAMERA. I defy you.

My JAW DROPPED when they took that final leap.

[mickleplum]

As an ex Street / Jazz Dancer I only ever managed to split from around 5ft high... Got a dodgey hip now for my sins... How these guys did it lord knows..

Had heard of this Balcony routine but never thought I'd see it.. Wow..

Nicholas Bro's fan myself but these guys were excellent in they're own right.. The Nich's had some great power jazz moves.

The Three Eddies were kind of cool too.

[Standardfrank]

mickeplum - This routine is incredible! Master craftsmanship at the highest level. My draw was literally dropping observing their stick movements...I'm thinking, one of these guys are going to drop their sticks...they then go on to the balcony and hit the deck with amazing splits that defied gravity...christ my jaw locked out of place.

[coc177]

Quelle merveille !

[swangonce]

What is this clip from?

Did they ever do that "balcony leap" in another routine on film b/c I thought I saw it elsewhere on a more elaborate set.

[mdb1230]

wow amazing!!!

Entertainers of today should watch this stuff!!! this is the real deal actually earning your wages through your TALENT!!!

[JazzyTeddy]

Wow. Their moves were definitely the foundation for step troupes that we have today but the Berry Brothers had better moves and more intriguing skills. It is hard to tap and sync that with performing a cane, but they made it look easy. Watching pioneers like this makes me wish we had more talent like that. Thanks for the post.

[Hitmanfan91]

i think they should of met 50 odd years later from the dance off they had and all 7 should of danced together, that would be special

[Hitmanfan91]

its a shame there pretty underrated and not many people have heard of them, especially when they had that dance off against the Nicholas Brothers and lost, i do believe overall the Nicholas Brothers were better but i think the Nicholas Brothers would have a hard time doing the splits from THAT high, but then again Harold and Fayard were both in their 70's the last time they ever did the splits so that just counters it

[jazzdance]

In am a massive fan of the Nicholas & Berry Brothers, along with most of the originators of acrobatical tap dance. Nothing tops it. These are the forefathers of modern dance. I have read about this battle in the biography of the Nicholas Bros. Shame it wasn't filmed

[Hitmanfan91]

very true, i think they were just as good as eachother but just different in minor but yet noticeable ways. I mean like someone said the synchronization with the walking sticks when they're throwing the walking sticks must've taken alot of time to perfect, but they made it look easy, and the stairway splits was truely immense.

[Hitmanfan91]

Sadly i think the fact that they had a dance off really put the Berry Bros. down, since the Nicholas Brothers did win, and its a shame that it had to be to such an extent. What i mean is they became stars and these guys weren't ever heard of at all barely. Its sad, although personally i preferred the Nicholas Brothers, the Berry Brothers deserved alot more recognistion

[jazzdance]

I totaly agree with you. These days proffesional dancers would not battle, as it would affect their persona and career. Thank goodness for YOUTUBE, so we can discover more footage of these amazing artists.

[thegranddilligaf]

That finalé brought tears to my eyes. Incredibly athletic.

[Hitmanfan91]

you know if i was any one of those three and i had just done the splits off a flight of stairs, i think i would have tears in my eyes...for at least the next 24 hours straight

[BCShynumber1]

Lmfao nice one.

[BCoriginal1]

Lmao that was hilarious.