In this episode of Club 30s with mjfangirl, we’re going behind the scenes with Ricko Baird, one of the select dancers who worked closest with Michael Jackson — including serving as MJ’s body double in You Rock My World and performing with him in the Michael Jackson & Friends shows. Ricko opens up about the shocking truth behind moments fans have never heard about before: being chosen out of more than 3,000 dancers to perform with Michael, what really happened during the Earth Song bridge collapse, how the choreography for You Rock My World changed on set, and which moments weren’t actually Michael on camera. He also talks about the intensity Michael brought to rehearsals, the experience of becoming “Adult MJ” in Thriller Live, and how all of these experiences shaped his transition into creating his own music today. If you love Michael Jackson, behind-the-scenes stories, early-2000s short films, or rare insights from the dancers who helped bring MJ’s visions to life, this interview is packed with details you won’t want to miss.

Make sure to check out Ricko’s music at rickobaird.com and support his independent artistry. Follow him on Facebook at Ricko Baird and Instagram @ricko_baird

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Introduction: Who is Ricko Baird?

02:24 — Early Life, Training & Becoming a Professional Dancer

04:09 — Landing His First Big Jobs & Moving to L.A.

05:00 — The Nerve-wracking Day Michael Jackson Walked Into Rehearsal

07:14 — Dancing Right Beside Michael Jackson

08:12 — Auditioning for Michael Jackson & Friends

09:58 — Traveling with MJ: Seoul, Munich & Experiencing MJ Mania

11:26 — Dangerous Live Clip Reaction & The Iconic “Flip” Moment

13:30 — What Michael Was Like in Rehearsal vs. Onstage

15:00 — Backstage at MJ Shows: Focus, Intensity & Perfection

17:20 — Earth Song, The Bridge Collapse & What Really Happened

19:10 — The Aftermath: Was Michael Hurt? What Did the Crew Do?

25:44 — You Rock My World: How Ricko Got the Call

27:30 — On Set with MJ, Chris Tucker & Marlon Brando

29:36 — The Dance Sequence: What Got Cut & What Fans Never Saw

32:31 — Ricko Reveals When He Was MJ’s Body Double

36:00 — The Movement Study: Matching Michael’s Style Perfectly

39:02 — Becoming “Adult Michael” in Thriller Live

41:50 — Touring the World as Michael in London & International Shows

46:00 — Ricko’s Transition Into a Solo Recording Artist

48:00 — Inside His Album Frequency & the Vision Behind the Music

50:00 — Music Video “Believe” Clip + Creative Process

54:00 — Ricko Baird's Music

53:15 — One Michael Jackson Moment Fans Would Be Shocked to Know

56:25 — Final Thoughts + Where to Follow Ricko Baird

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