Richard is originally from Texas where he grew up competing in gymnastics and cheerleading and was named “America’s Number One Male Cheerleader” four times by the National Cheerleaders Association. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio with a Master of Fine Arts in Dance, and was the recipient of the Edna Raphael Award in Excellence in Performance. Upon graduating he studied at the Martha Graham School of Dance in New York City, where he was accepted into their teacher training program and most recently had the honor of performing for the
[email protected] Studio Series. In 2015, he performed as a member of the Los Angeles based dance company Diavolo: Architecture in Motion Company B. Notably, he was invited to perform at the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu, Korea and was also invited to appear on Season 7 of America’s Got Talent. He has been a backup dancer for Patti LaBelle, danced in Cameron Mackintosh’s Hey, Mr. Producer!, and danced for Princess, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. After attending The New England Center for Circus Arts and the San Francisco Circus Center, he joined Norwegian Cruise Lines as a principal acrobat and dancer, then toured internationally as an aerialist and fire eater with Aerial Angels Circus Company and Aerial Experience Productions. In 2011, Oaxaca worked with MTV and CMT television networks in conjunction with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus to coach circus performers for the reality television show Made. Most recently, Oaxaca served as an adjunct professor at Case Western and before that performed as a mainstage dancer and performer in Disney's Aladdin, A Musical Spectacular, aboard the Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship portraying the part of The Magic Carpet. This is his first season with Kanopy Dance Company.