| Richard Jackson | |
| Birth Place: | San Francisco Bay Area, United States |
| Medium: | Dancer, choreographer, television personality |
| Nationality: | American |
| Active: | 1999–present |
| Genre: | Dance/choreography, reality television |
Richard "Richy" Jackson is an American dancer, creative director, and choreographer from the San Francisco Bay Area best known for his work with Lady Gaga.[1] Jackson has a lifelong interest in dance, and after seeing school friend Aaliyah on television,[2] he left Tuskegee University in 1999 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue dance as a career.[3]
Jackson has danced for several artists including Missy Elliott[4] and Usher,[5] and was an assistant choreographer to award-winning choreographer Michael Rooney.[2] Jackson later worked as an assistant choreographer to Laurieann Gibson, choreographing, collaborating, and dancing with Lady Gaga as well as for artists including Cimorelli, Keri Hilson, Brandy, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj.[3] In November 2011, Lady Gaga ended her professional relationship with Gibson and appointed Jackson as her choreographer and visual director.[6]
In 2012 Jackson served as visual director and choreographer for Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball tour and featured as a judge on Lifetime television's Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition.[7] Jackson also has dance credits in several films and television commercials.[8]
Jackson is known to his fans as "Richy Squirrel" and is an active Twitter contributor.[9]