The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside is a podcast about the creative life—onstage and off.Principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, writer, and choreographer James Whiteside shares behind-the-scenes conversations, solo reflections, and personal essays on art, career longevity, creativity, and identity. Episodes range from intimate monologues to candid interviews with dancers, artists, and friends, offering an honest look at the process behind the performance.

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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: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

54. Conversations on Retirement

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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 producing—through graduate school at Harvard, rejection, reinvention, and ultimately founding a practice built on long-term thinking and trust. Together, James and Garen unpack the difference between agents and managers, how artists can advocate for themselves, and why “success” doesn’t always look the way we’re told it should.They also talk honestly about James’s own crossroads as a principal dancer preparing for what comes next, the challenge of making time for choreography while still performing, and the freedom (and fear) of imagining a future beyond the stage. Plus: dance film, illegal documentaries, lemon trees, and why having the right people in your corner changes everything. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

53. Management, Money, & the Long Game with Garen Scribner

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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. A behind-the-scenes look at the writing life, the reader response, and the messy middle of making something new. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

52. Your Son is Probably Gay (and other news)

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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 solved with better communication.Along the way: unhinged New York subway behavior, thoughts on the ethics of Free Solo, recent reads, and a deep dive into Part Two of his Substack series 31 Years a Nutcracker Prince. From dancing The Bear in Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker(yes, with aerial cartwheels) to confetti cannons, beloved dressers, and onstage chaos, it’s a nostalgic, hilarious solo episode about ballet, books, and life in the theater. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

51. Cats, Books, & Ballet Chaos

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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 Opera, what it felt like to step into the unknown, and how injury, heartbreak, and stillness became the catalyst for change. We talk about restlessness, timing, courage, and the quietly radical question: How much time do I have?If you’ve ever felt the itch to change something in your life — your job, your city, your relationship, or yourself — this conversation is for you. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

50. Mid-Career Moves with Cassandra Trenary

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James talks about his upstate writer&#39;s retreat and why Avatar needs a gay focus group. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

49. Avatar Needs a Gay Focus Group

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James wishes Stage Rightside listeners a Happy New Year, tells tales of his Christmas, and reads a brand new kids&#39; story called &#34;Johnny Newcastle&#34;. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

48. Happy New Year! and a Short Story

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James does a post-show Nutcracker download with ABT Principal ballerina Isabella Boylston and reads his very first essay for Substack. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

47. Holiday Special with Isabella Boyston and a very Nutcracker Substack!

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James talks about Met Season with ABT, Vail Dance Festival, and staging his ballet &#34;New American Romance&#34; in Mexico City. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

46. Summer RECAP with James Whiteside

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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: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

45. Giselle with Cassandra Trenary

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James talks to ABT Principal Dancer Catherine Hurlin before and after their performance of Swan Lake at the Metropolitan Opera House. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

44. Swan Lake with Catherine Hurlin

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In this special episode, James recaps the Spring touring season, accompanied by costume designers Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

43. Special Tour Episode with James, Reid, & Harriet

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James talks about his early years in dance, his training, and his first years as an apprentice in a big ballet company. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

42. All About Training with James Whiteside

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James and Reid talk about ballet costumes; faves, mishaps, and least faves! Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

41. Costumes, costumes, COSTUMES! With Reid & James

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James chats about which female roles he&#39;d want to dance, what he did on his layoff from ABT, and why straight men at the gym annoy him. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

40. Straight Guys at the Gym

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James chats about Tr*mp&#39;s Kennedy Center, the WAP en pointe, and drunk gay people. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

39. Tr*mp's Kennedy Center

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James talks about a typical rehearsal day, what he eats, and... poop in the tiles?!?! Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

38. How I Got Into ABT

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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: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

37. Baby's First Solo Episode!!!

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James and Reid talk noodles, circle j*rks, Beyonce, and Alien Romulus. Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

S07E02 - Reid Bartelme

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Michael returns for the first episode of 2025! We chat about Sasha DeSola, resolutions, Darci Kistler&#39;s beautiful penche, Unity Phelan, the Nutcracker, and more! Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

S07E01 - Michael Breeden

Creative process, personal stories, and real life

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.