Just Dance For Us, No Words Are Required
A Villanelle with imagery
The Nicholas Brothers knew the score
Keep your mouths shut, speak of no injustice
Entertain us, you’re on the dance floor
You’re paid big money, that’s what you’re here for
The white man sayeth, “ You can trust us”
The Nicholas Brothers knew the score
You’re watched in amazement, white folks give you an encore
But using the back door leaves you disgusted
Entertain us, you’re on the dance floor
White folks love your antics, especially when you score
Just keep your opinions to yourself, or you’ll get busted
The Nicholas Brothers knew the score
Keep the white folks happy, cause they get bored
Gotta know ones place, or they’ll replace us
Entertain us, you’re on the dance floor
You black folks are entertainers, nothing less, nothing more
Your voice or views mean nothing to us
The Nicholas Brothers knew the score
Entertain us, you’re on the stadium floor
I apologize for mixing up a few of the verses, but I was getting to a particular point, or premise.
https://www.culturalweekly.com/looking-back-nicholas-brothers/
The Nicholas Brothers were unbelievably accomplished and virtuosic. The brothers became regular stars of the jazz circuit known as the Harlem Renaissance, performing in venues including the Cotton Club and on Broadway in the Ziegfeld Follies, and continued into the 1990’s with successful careers that mixed film, television, and Broadway, as well as tours performing on stages internationally. While dancing in the film Babes in Arms they received training from the legendary choreographer George Balanchine, and they themselves taught master classes at schools such as Harvard and Radcliffe, and later had students that included Debbie Allen, and Janet and Michael Jackson.
What many people don’t know is that Fred Astaire looked up to them. I bet everyone knows who Fred Astaire is.
Please enjoy this homage to the Nicholas Brothers.
