PODCAST · arts
The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside
by James Whiteside
The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside is a podcast about the creative life—onstage and off.American Ballet Theatre principal dancer, writer, and choreographer James Whiteside shares personal essays, solo reflections, and candid conversations with artists and friends about creativity, career longevity, identity, and what it really takes to make a life in the arts.Episodes range from intimate, essay-style monologues to behind-the-scenes interviews, offering an honest look at the process behind performance and the person behind the work.
Episodes
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54. Conversations on Retirement
I join my friends from Conversations on Dance, Michael Sean Breeden and Rebecca King Ferraro, to discuss my retirement from American Ballet Theatre next summer, as well as my plans for the future. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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53. Management, Money, & the Long Game with Garen Scribner
In this episode of The Stage Rightside, James sits down with longtime friend and manager Garen Scribner for a candid conversation about life after dancing, career pivots, and what it really takes to build a sustainable creative life. Garen shares his path from the stage to management and...
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52. Your Son is Probably Gay (and other news)
In this episode, I read my latest Substack essay aloud and share some of the DMs it sparked—thoughtful, funny, and occasionally surprising. I also talk about the feedback I just received from my literary agent on my new book and what it’s like to sit with notes, doubt, and excitement all at once.…
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51. Cats, Books, & Ballet Chaos
This week on The Stage Rightside, James checks in from rehearsal season—with a purring cat, a recovering back spasm, and plenty of opinions. As ABT prepares for tour with Christopher Wheeldon’s The Winter’s Tale, he reflects on jealousy, insecurity, and how most Shakespearean disasters could be...
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50. Mid-Career Moves with Cassandra Trenary
In this episode, I talk with my dear friend and fellow dancer Cassandra Trenary about what it means to leave a dream — not because it’s broken, but because you’ve outgrown it. Cassie shares why she chose to leave her life as a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre to join the Vienna State...
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49. Avatar Needs a Gay Focus Group
James talks about his upstate writer's retreat and why Avatar needs a gay focus group. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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48. Happy New Year! and a Short Story
James wishes Stage Rightside listeners a Happy New Year, tells tales of his Christmas, and reads a brand new kids' story called "Johnny Newcastle". Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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47. Holiday Special with Isabella Boyston and a very Nutcracker Substack!
James does a post-show Nutcracker download with ABT Principal ballerina Isabella Boylston and reads his very first essay for Substack. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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46. Summer RECAP with James Whiteside
James talks about Met Season with ABT, Vail Dance Festival, and staging his ballet "New American Romance" in Mexico City. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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45. Giselle with Cassandra Trenary
James talks to ABT Principal dancer Cassandra Trenary about their performance of Giselle at the Metropolitan Opera House and her decision to leave ABT to join Vienna State Opera. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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44. Swan Lake with Catherine Hurlin
James talks to ABT Principal Dancer Catherine Hurlin before and after their performance of Swan Lake at the Metropolitan Opera House. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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43. Special Tour Episode with James, Reid, & Harriet
In this special episode, James recaps the Spring touring season, accompanied by costume designers Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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42. All About Training with James Whiteside
James talks about his early years in dance, his training, and his first years as an apprentice in a big ballet company. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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41. Costumes, costumes, COSTUMES! With Reid & James
James and Reid talk about ballet costumes; faves, mishaps, and least faves! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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40. Straight Guys at the Gym
James chats about which female roles he'd want to dance, what he did on his layoff from ABT, and why straight men at the gym annoy him. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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39. Tr*mp's Kennedy Center
James chats about Tr*mp's Kennedy Center, the WAP en pointe, and drunk gay people. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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38. How I Got Into ABT
James talks about a typical rehearsal day, what he eats, and... poop in the tiles?!?! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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37. Baby's First Solo Episode!!!
James chats with himself about Smile 2, Rose Gray, and being a gay gay gay person who only plays straight people. Big wahhhh! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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S07E02 - Reid Bartelme
James and Reid talk noodles, circle j*rks, Beyonce, and Alien Romulus. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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S07E01 - Michael Breeden
Michael returns for the first episode of 2025! We chat about Sasha DeSola, resolutions, Darci Kistler's beautiful penche, Unity Phelan, the Nutcracker, and more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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S06E06 - Michael Breeden
James chats with Michael about becoming a repetiteur (someone who teaches ballets from scratch), retiring from Miami City Ballet, and their early days together in Boston Ballet circa 1904. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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S06E05 - Jake Roxander
James chats with ABT Soloist Jake Roxander about being in a family of ballet dancers, heightism in dance, and his dream roles. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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S06E04 - Chloe Misseldine
James chats with ABT's newest Principal Dancer, Chloe Misseldine, about her ascent, her dream roles, and who she would kiss, marry, or kill. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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S06E03 - The Retirees
James chats with retiring ABT corps de ballet members Alex Basmagy, Kiely Groenewegen, and Lauren Post about their careers and what they're doing once they hang up their pointe shoes. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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S06E02 - Thomas Forster
James chats with ABT Principal Dancer Thomas Forster about his training, dealing with rejection, and reality TV. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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S06E01 - Skylar Brandt
James chats with ABT Principal Dancer Skylar Brandt about the Summer Season, why Swan Lake is her nemesis, and reviews. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Season 6 Preview!
The Stage Rightside is BACK in 2024 with new guests and some old favorites. Join James from his dressing room at the Metropolitan Opera during American Ballet Theatre's Summer Season. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Designer Jean-Marc Puissant
James chats with costume and set designer Jean-Marc Puissant about his early work and creating the designs for Alexei Ratmansky’s “Of Love and Rage” which was slated to make its NYC debut at the Metropolitan Opera with ABT this spring. They discuss the joys of difficulties of working on this epic...
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Xander Parish: Mariinsky Star
James chats with British dancer Xander Parish about his rise to principal dancer at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. They discuss hot topics such as Russian culture, Sergei Polunin, and more. Premier Dance Network website James on Instagram JamesWhiteside.org Upcoming Performances...
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Beatriz Stix-Brunell
Royal Ballet principal dancer, Beatriz Stix-Brunell, discusses self expression and the so-called ballerina mystique. She and James test out their Australian accents to mixed success. Premier Dance Network website James on Instagram JamesWhiteside.org Upcoming Performances Advertising Inquiries:...
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Arthur Pita: South African Portuguese Brit
James chats with choreographer Arthur Pita, with whom he had worked on the horror dance play “The Tenant”. They discuss “Showgirls”, disco dancing, and working in theatre and film. Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram James Whiteside -...
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Marcelino Sambé, You Stay!
James chats with Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Marcelino Sambé about his rise to principality, his injury and how to find beauty in a bleak world. Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram James Whiteside - Facebook James Whiteside - Twitter...
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Harper Watters: Queen Bee of Houston Ballet
James chats with Houston Ballet soloist Harper Watters LIVE on Instagram in this special quarantined edition of The Stage Rightside. They talk about coming out, being different, and family acceptance. Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram...
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Megan Take the Wheel
NYCB Soloist, Megan LeCrone, drives James home from rehearsal and an impromptu Stage Rightside ensues. Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram James Whiteside - Facebook James Whiteside - Twitter Advertising Inquiries:...
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Stage Rightside Returns!
Stage Rightside is BACK for Season 4! Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram James Whiteside - Facebook James Whiteside - Twitter Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Mark Morris Makes Dances
James grills dance maker Mark Morris on music, nail clippings, New York City, queer life, and more on The Stage Rightside. Prepare to be entertained by Mark's wit and stunned by his obvious, logical genius. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out:...
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Kevin McKenzie on Directing
James kicks off Season 3 of the Stage Rightside with ABT's Artistic Director of 25 years, Kevin McKenzie. They chat training, directorship, and having the hard conversations. This is Kevin as you've never known him. What a way to start Season 3! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands...
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Hip Hip Hoorayvid Hallberg!
James chats with fellow ABT principal dancer, David Hallberg. They babble on about Arizona iced tea, returning from injury, mild insanity, and Dear Evan Hansen. C'mon week 7! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Executive Realness
James gets the T from ABT Executive Director Kara Medoff Barnett. They chat about feminism, ABT in the digital age, the Tonys, and the future of American Ballet Theatre. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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The Cat Wranglers
Kyle Pickles and Ashley Baer are ABT's Company Managers. They have the difficult task of wrangling these cats! They chat with James about touring the world, their favorite TV shows, and staying safe in cities with vastly differing cultures. Get into it! Advertising Inquiries:...
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Susan for a Bruisin
James kikis with Principal Ballet Mistress, Susan Jones. They chat about the ideal corps de ballet woman, her favorite ballets to stage, working with every director of ABT, and becoming an airline pilot. Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram...
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Jamar You or Jamaren't You?
James sits down with Alvin Ailey's Jamar Roberts. They discuss Mariah Carey, being a competition kid, Revelations, and protein powder. Not to mention "Hidge or not hidge"! Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram James Whiteside - Facebook…
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Trockadero Gigglefest
James sits down with longtime friend, Matthew Poppe of les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the drag ballet company. They dish on pointe shoes, technique vs. comedy, and homosexuality. There's another guest appearance by (you guessed it) Isabella and a mysterious dairy queen. Premier Dance...
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The CocoMotion
James returns to the Stage Rightside in the first episode of Season 2. He interviews fellow ABT principal dancer, Cory Stearns on Youth America Grand Prix, girlfriends, Cheez Doodles, and more! The only side you'll want to be on is the Stage Rightside with James Whiteside! Premier Dance Network...
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Truly Julie
James sits down with American prima ballerina-turned-directress, Julie Kent. They wax poetic about humble beginnings, the future, Mikhail Baryshnikov, & Kevin McKenzie. Don't miss it! Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram James Whiteside -...
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10 ~ Female CORPSeographer
James speaks with ABT Corps de Ballet member, Gemma Bond about the Corps, choreography, coasters, and girls vs. women. Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram James Whiteside - Facebook James Whiteside - Twitter Advertising Inquiries:...
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09 ~ Rena is the Most
James speaks with ABT's head of wigs and makeup department, Rena Most. They dish on theater makeup, haunted houses, and their makeup/hair pet peeves. Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram James Whiteside - Facebook James Whiteside - Twitter...
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08 ~ Etoiles of ABT: Gillian & Marcelo
James speaks with ABT Principals Gillian Murphy and Marcelo Gomes about humble beginnings, keeping it fresh, and their Summer plans. Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram James Whiteside - Facebook James Whiteside - Twitter Advertising...
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07 ~ Uptown, Meet Jack Ferver
James speaks with downtown show-maker Jack Ferver about his new show, "I Want You To Want Me", among other things, like Return to Oz, Madonna, and seances. Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside - Instagram James Whiteside - Facebook James Whiteside -...
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06 ~ The Ratmansky is the Limit
James talks to ABT artist in residence, Alexei Ratmansky (who inexplicably calls him "Jim") about Russia, Britney Spears, and roles he missed out on. It's an illuminating chat with a prolific choreographer. Premier Dance Network website James Whiteside website ABT website James Whiteside -...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside is a podcast about the creative life—onstage and off.American Ballet Theatre principal dancer, writer, and choreographer James Whiteside shares personal essays, solo reflections, and candid conversations with artists and friends about creativity, career longevity, identity, and what it really takes to make a life in the arts.Episodes range from intimate, essay-style monologues to behind-the-scenes interviews, offering an honest look at the process behind performance and the person behind the work.
HOSTED BY
James Whiteside
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside have?
The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside currently has 55 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside about?
The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside is a podcast about the creative life—onstage and off.American Ballet Theatre principal dancer, writer, and choreographer James Whiteside shares personal essays, solo reflections, and candid conversations with artists and friends about creativity, career...
How often does The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside release new episodes?
The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside has 55 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside?
You can listen to The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside?
The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside is created and hosted by James Whiteside.
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