The Berry Brothers were an African-American "exotic, acrobatic soft shoe dance" trio, active in the entertainment business for over 30 years. The trio was composed of Ananias (Nyas, "King of the Strut"), James and Warren Berry.

In 1938, at the Cotton Club

Cotton Club

The Cotton Club was a famous night club in Harlem, New York City that operated during Prohibition that included jazz music. While the club featured many of the greatest African American entertainers of the era, such as Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Adelaide Hall, Count Basie, Bessie Smith,...

 there was a face-off dance competition between the Nicholas Brothers

Nicholas Brothers

The Nicholas Brothers were a famous African American team of dancing brothers, Fayard and Harold . With their highly acrobatic technique , high level of artistry and daring innovations, they were considered by many the greatest tap dancers of their day...

 and the Berry Brothers. It has become a legendary confrontation, a sort of dance-fight for supremacy. By some accounts the Berry Brothers were more athletic but the Nicholas brothers were better overall performers - better at pleasing the crowd.

Their film credits include Lady Be Good (1941)

Lady Be Good (1941 film)

Lady Be Good is the title of an MGM musical film which was released in 1941.The film starred dancer Eleanor Powell along with Ann Sothern, Robert Young, Lionel Barrymore, and Red Skelton. It was directed by Norman Z. McLeod and produced by Arthur Freed...

, Panama Hattie

Panama Hattie

Panama Hattie is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Herbert Fields and B. G. DeSylva. It is also the title of a 1942 MGM musical based upon the play...

 (1942), Boarding House Blues (1948), and You're My Everything

You're My Everything (film)

You're My Everything is a 1949 film directed by Walter Lang. It stars Dan Dailey and Robert Young.-Cast:*Dan Dailey as Timothy O'Connor*Anne Baxter as Hannah Adams*Anne Revere as Aunt Jane*Stanley Ridges as Mr. Henry Mercer...

(1949).