The dancers are a part of the Haus of Gaga since the beginning with the early promotional event for the The Fame in 2008. During special live performances, the "core" dancers are often joined with selected dancers for the performance. All the choreography from 2008 to fall of 2011 were done by Laurieann "Boomkack" Gibson with her assistants such as Richard "Richy" Jackson who took the role of choreographer in October of 2011.
History
2007–2009: The Fame era
At the start of her Hollywood career, Gaga was joined by a pair of female dancers from early February to the end of April of the same year. These dancers, Sheryl Murakami and Kathryn "Katie" Berenson, are seen in the music video for "Just Dance". In the video, Murakami turned on the boom box that began the video's music, while Berenson carried in Gaga's piano. These dancers are also seen during Gaga's performance at the 2008 Winter Music Conference.
In May of 2008, Gaga was accompanied by two new female dancers: Melissa "Dina" Emrico, a prima ballerina from D.C. and Katie "Pepper" Orr. In June, Pepper was fired for refusing to play a pride show and was replaced by Sheryl Murakami for three days. On June 20, Celine "Coco Chanel" Thubert, a French pop n' locker did her debut as the replacement for Pepper. The new duo were featured in the short film, The Fame: Part I. In August, Coco Chanel was replaced by Mecca "Miss Jones" Andrews for the month. Coco Chanel came back in September for the last time with Gaga. Asked about what happened to them by the Sydney Morning Herald in May of 2009, Gaga replied with: "The fame got to them".
- Typical attire for the female dancers included a black top, slip-on Maison Margiela style shoulders, tight black pants, driving gloves and Marni sandals. These outfits were extremely similar to the outfits described for Alex and his 'droogs' in Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange. Gaga's original introductory music was the theme from the film version of A Clockwork Orange. It can be inferred that the Haus and Gaga's theme was a tribute to the pop culture of the 60's and 70's via the persona of her performances. For example, Dina and Pepper acted as her own 'droogs'.
While performing at The Mega Jam on August 9, 2008, Lady Gaga accidently hit Dina in the mouth with her microphone during the song "Just Dance". Dina was not seriously injured, but did require ambulance assistance to stop the bleeding.
In October 2008, Gaga dropped her female dancers to have four male dancers: Michael "Mickey Mugler" Silas, Asiel "Duke Jones" Hardison, Ian "Louis Lagerfeld" McKenzie and Anthony "Tonny Ferris" Lofendo. During live performances, Gaga usually introduced them with their nickname rather than their real name. Their nicknames were inspired by some of Gaga's favorite fashion designers: Michael Silas as Mikey Mugler, Ian McKenzie as Louis Lagerfeld, Asiel Hardison as Duke Jones, Anthony Lofendo as Tonny Ferris. At the end of the tour with the New Kids on The Block, Anthony "left" the group for undisclosed reasons. The remaining trio did the The Fame Ball in 2009.
2009-2011: The Fame Monster era
The trio had a one year contract which ended on August 2009 but they re-signed to be part of The Monster Ball Tour. Seven new dancers were also hired for the new tour: Graham Breitenstein, Montana Efaw, Sloan-Taylor Rabinor, Amanda Balen, Molly d'Amour-Goslin, Mark Kanemura and Jeremy Hudson. Some of them had already worked with Gaga on a music video or a special live performances. Around May of 2010, Mark Kanemura and Jeremy Hudson left The Monster Ball, leaving Cassidy Noblett and Victor Rojas to replace them. Mark Kanemura returned on tour starting February 19, 2011, while Cassidy Noblett has left.
Born This Way era
May-December 2011
Since the end of the Monster Ball, Gaga performed with eight or nine of the dancers including Richard Jackson who usually dance in the music videos or special live performances. For "Marry the Night", Melissa Emrico returned to the Haus for the shoot only.
- Bethany "Peanut" Strong
- Asiel Hardison
- Montana Efaw
- Ian McKenzie
- Michael Silas
- Amanda Balen
- Mark Kanemura
- Victor Rojas
- Molly d'Amour-Goslin
April 2012-February 2013
For The Born This Way Ball, some dancers did not renew their contracts or were replaced in total, three new dancers (Knicole Haggins, David Lei Brandt, Kevin Frey) joined the Haus while three left (Michael Silas, Molly d'Amour, Bethany Strong). Richard Jackson returned to be the choreographer of the Tour.
ARTPOP era
March 2013-November 2014
After the Born This Way Ball, Jeremy Hudson and Mark Kanemura left the Haus. Gaga started performing with ten or nine dancers, adding new ones for music videos. On April 7, Amanda Balen left the Haus after the last show at Roseland Ballroom.
- Asiel Hardison
- Montana Efaw
- Graham Breitenstein
- Amanda Balen (Left on April 7, 2014)
- Ian McKenzie
- Victor Rojas
- Knicole Breahn Haggins
- Kevin Frey
- David Lei Brandt
- Sloan-Taylor Rabinor
For the ArtRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball, 8 dancers returned and 6 new dancers were added Karen Chuang, Nick Geurts, Tamina Pollack-Paris, Gianinni Semedo Moreira, Theresa Stone and China Taylor while Knicole left.
Joanne era
2016-February 2018
For the Super Bowl performance, Gaga recruted 40 dancers, a mix of current with former Haus dancers and new dancers:
- Asiel Hardison, Ian McKenzie, David Lei Brandt (his last performance with Gaga), Nick Geurts, Eric Schloesser, Christopher Shazar, Eric Sanchez, Juan Zapata, Francisco Casavilla, Tamina Pollack-Paris, Sloan-Taylor Rabinor, Lindsay Taylor, Kelsey Menke, Alexandria Kaye Upshur, Caroline M. Diamond, Gianinni Semedo Moreira, Cris Cangero, Casey Johansen, Ambrosio Respicio, Grayson McGuire, Michael Silas, China Taylor, Montana Efaw, Karen Chuang, Alyssa Stamp, Ashley Cruz, Imani Wisdom, Ed Moore, Trevor Loritz, Kevin Frey, Marquis Cunningham, Amanda Balen, Christina Grady, Sabrina Lundgren, Victor Rojas, Eric McCoy, Kennis Upchurch, Graham Breitenstein, Heather Therese Blum
- Choreography - Richy Jackson (choreographer), Lacee Franks (assistant choreographer)
For the Joanne World Tour, Gaga had 12 dancers: Ian McKenzie, Asiel Hardison (left after the tour), Kevin Frey, Victor Rojas, Graham Breitenstein, Christopher Shazar (new), Montana Efaw, Sloan-Taylor Rabinor, Tamina Pollack-Paris, China Taylor, Christina Grady (new) and Caroline M. Diamond (new).
December 2018-December 2019
Dancers for the concert residency Enigma: Ian McKenzie, Kevin Frey, Victor Rojas, Graham Breitenstein, Christopher Shazar, Casey Alexander Sheehan (new), Juan Zapata (new), Montana Efaw, Sloan-Taylor Rabinor, Tamina Pollack-Paris, China Taylor, Christina "Pasty" Grady.
2020 onwards: Chromatica era
For The Chromatica Ball in July, 2022, Richard Jackson returned as choreographer with assistance by Christopher Shazar with a lineup of 16 dancers. For the first time since 2008, and controversy surrounding Richard Jackson, only three dancers returned out of the 12 in Enigma: Ian McKenzie (since 2008), Victor Rojas (since 2010) and China Taylor (since 2013). Lindsay Taylor returned to the lineup after having previously performed at the Super Bowl in 2017. The following 12 dancers debuted at The Chromatica Ball: Joseph Szekula, CJ Jensen, Jazz Smith, Kyle Ponte, Michael Pesko, Grayson McGuire, Morgan Geraghty, Madison Rouge Alvarado, Aisha, Alaia, Jake Gonzales and Trinity Inay.
Members
Current
There are currently 16 dancers in the Haus of Gaga:
- Ian "Louis Lagerfeld" McKenzie (October 3, 2008–present)
- Victor Rojas (February 18, 2010–present)
- China Taylor (May 4, 20141–present)
- Lindsay Taylor (2016, July 17, 2022–present)
- Joseph Szekula, CJ Jensen, Jazz Smith, Kyle Ponte, Michael Pesko, Grayson McGuire, Morgan Geraghty, Madison Rouge Alvarado, Aisha, Alaia, Jake Gonzales and Trinity Inay (since July 17, 2022–present).
1 Technically, her first performance with the Haus was on August 25, 2013 prior to the artRAVE: the ARTPOP Ball.
Former
- Kathryn "Katie" Berenson (October 4, 2007 to April 19, 2008)
- Sheryl Murakami (October 4, 2007 to April 19, 2008 & June 12 to June 13, 2008)
- Melissa "Dina" Emrico (May 11, 2008 to September 28,2008)
- Katie "Pepper" Orr (May 11 to June 10, 2008)
- Celine "Coco Chanel" Thubert (June 20 to July 31 & September 13 to 28, 2008)
- Mecca "Miss Jones" Andrews (August 12 to September 6, 2008)
- Asiel "Duke Jones" Hardison (October 3, 2008 to February 1, 2018)
- Anthony "Tonny Ferris" Lofendo (October 3, 2008 to December 31, 2008)
- Molly d'Amour-Goslin (November 27, 2009 to December 5, 2011)
- Michael "Mickey Mugler" Silas (October 3, 2008 to July 13, 2011)
- Cassidy Noblett (May to December 2010)
- Jeremy Hudson (November 27, 2009 to May 2010 & September 2011 to February 11, 2013)
- Mark Kanemura (November 27, 2009 to May 2010 & Feb 18, 2011 to February 11, 2013)
- Montana Efaw (November 2009 to February 19, 2020)
- Graham Breitenstein (November 27, 2009 to August 30, 2020)
- Sloan-Taylor Rabinor (November 27, 2009 to August 30, 2020)
- Amanda Balen (November 27, 2009 to April 7, 20141)
1 Amanda did a few select performances following her departure until 2017.
Timeline
- 2007–2009
Occasional dancers
- Kate Eberstadt (2013 MTV Video Music Awards)
- Mike Munich (2010, 2011)
- "Alejandro" (2010)
- "Born This Way" (2011)
- 53rd Grammy Award Ceremony (2011)
- "Bad Romance" (2009)
- Valerie Moise (Raistalla)
- Pamela Jean-Smith
- "Alejandro" (2010)
- Benjamin Susak
- James Collins
- JC Carrier
- Casey Johansen
- Sean Patrick
- "Judas" (2011)
- Brandon Barton
- Danielle Polanco
Lineups
Era | Dancers | Tour |
---|---|---|
The Fame |
Coco was replaced on select dates by: |
Promo Tour |
NKOTB:Live | ||
The Fame Ball | ||
The Fame Monster |
|
The Monster Ball |
Chromatica |
|
MTV Video Music Awards |
|
The Chromatica Ball |