James B. Whiteside

Last updated

James Whiteside
James Whiteside Heashot.jpg
Whiteside in 2012
Born
James B. Whiteside

(1984-07-27) July 27, 1984 (age 41)
Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
EducationVirginia School of the Arts
Occupationsballet dancer, recording artist, model, drag queen, choreographer
Career
Current group American Ballet Theatre
Former groups Boston Ballet
Website jamesbwhiteside.com

James B. Whiteside (born July 27, 1984), is an American ballet dancer, choreographer, model, drag queen, and recording artist. He is a former principal dancer with Boston Ballet and is currently a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre.

Contents

Early life and training

Whiteside was born on 27 July 1984 at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut. [1] His parents belonged to wealthy, suburban families, and divorced when he was two. His mother struggled with addiction, and died of cancer in 2016. [2] [3] [4]

Whiteside grew up in Fairfield and Bridgeport. [5] He started training in jazz, tap, and acrobatics at the D'Valda and Sirico Dance and Music Centre, a competition school run by Angela D'Valda and Steve Sirico, when he was nine years old. As part of the Centre's youth company, he toured, performed, and competed in National Dance Alliance's Starpower, Dance Educators of America, StarQuest, and Youth America Grand Prix. [6] [7]

In 2000, Whiteside auditioned for the American Ballet Theatre (ABT)'s Summer Intensive and was accepted with a full scholarship. He was fifteen at the time, and regularly commuted from Fairfield to ABT’s studio in Union Square, New York City. He was placed in the third-lowest level (Blue) during his first year, and was not offered a spot in the ABT Studio Company. He received a full scholarship to attend his second ABT’s Summer Intensive the following year, and was placed in the Blue level. Misty Copeland and David Hallberg, who were part of the same cohort, were placed in the highest levels and were offered a contract with ABT Studio Company. [1]

At seventeen, Whiteside received a scholarship to attend the now-defunct Virginia School of Arts in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he trained under Petrus Bosman and David Keener. [8] [9] After being rejected for his third ABT’s Summer Intensive, he auditioned for Houston Ballet’s Summer Intensive and was offered a contractual position as a corps de ballet. He also accepted with full scholarship for Boston Ballet’s Summer Dance Program. In the end, he chose Boston Ballet, expecting Boston to be “less homophobic” than Texas. [1] He placed in the highest of the two men’s levels, and was subsequently cast for a pas d’action in La Bayadère.

Career

Ballet

Whiteside spent 10 years at the Boston Ballet, becoming a corps de ballet in 2003, soloist in 2006, first soloist in 2008, and principal dancer in 2009. [10] [5] He joined ABT as a soloist in September 2012 after being invited to audition. He was promoted to principal dancer in October 2013. [5] [11]

In 2014, Whiteside was announced as one of the performers for ABT’s Brisbane, Australia tour. [12] [13] In October 2015, he performed a pas de deux with Misty Copeland in After Effect, choreographed by Marcelo Gomes, as part of ABT’s 75th anniversary show at the David H. Koch Theater. [14]

In 2018, he starred in Arthur Pita's The Tenant, based on Roland Topor's novel of the same name, at The Joyce in New York City. [15] He performed as Odette/Odile in Peter Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake at the Metropolitan Opera House, as part of ABT’s summer season in June-July 2018. [16] [17] In May 2019, he performed as Prince Coffee in Whipped Cream choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky, as part of ABT’s summer season. [18] In August 2019, he performed with the National Ballet of Canada as a guest artist and was featured in Justin Peck's short film Early Sunday Morning, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. [19]

In June 2023, Whiteside hosted ABTKids at the Metropolitan Opera House. The hour-long, family-friendly show included select performances from ABT’s repertoire, with behind-the-scene insights, meant to introduce children to ballet production. [20] In July 2023, he performed as Romeo in Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Albrecht in Adolphe Adam’s Giselle, as part of ABT’s summer season. [21] [22]

In October 2025, ABT announced that Whiteside will co-lead the performance of Twyla Tharp’s Bach Partita for their fall season, as a retrospective tribute to the choreographer. [23] He also co-led the performance of Serenade after Plato’s Symposium during the season. [24] In November 2025, he was announced as one of the principal dancers for ABT’s inaugural spring season scheduled for March 2026, and will perform as Iago in Othello: A Dance in Three Acts. [25]

Whiteside hosts his own podcast series on Premier Dance Network called The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside. [26] [27]

Choreography

Ballet

Whiteside choreographed Claude Debussy's On the Water for Indianapolis City Ballet's Evening with the Stars in 2015. He previously performed it with ABT's Gillian Murphy. [28] In 2018, he was announced as one of choreographers selected for the ABT Incubator. He choreographed City of Women which premiered during ABT's summer season, and was later performed at Tivoli, NY's Kaatsbaan Cultural Park in 2021. [29] [30] [31]

In 2017, Disney Japan invited Whiteside to choreograph and perform a Beauty and the Beast pas de deux. The dance, featuring him and Boston Ballet's Misa Kuranaga, was featured on the DVD and Blu-ray release of Disney Ballet Mousercise, a ballet lesson series. Disney chose a newly-arranged piano version of Tale as Old as Time as the music. For the three-act classical ballet, Whiteside was inspired by the "original Beauty and the Beast (1991), Frederick Ashton's Cinderella and much of Alexei Ratmansky's work." [32] [11]

Whiteside choreographed New American Romance that offers a progressive take on the classical romantic ballet with "contemporary, sassy injections of turned-in footwork or classical hands that suddenly start to swirl midair." [33] The dance, exploring themes of modern love, debuted at 2019 Vail Dance Festival and was later performed at the Lincoln Centre as part of ABT's 2022 fall season. [31] Whiteside created and choreographed Marilyn's Funeral for Juilliard School which was filmed and edited by third-year student Joan Dwiartanto. The dance was conceptualized during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by his "subconscious need for peace and beauty." The title references the mysterious death of American actress and model Marilyn Monroe. Performed at the Julliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater, the dance invites the audience to feel sadness and peacefulness–the same emotions that one might associate with a funeral.

Whiteside choreographed Danzón No. 2 which was performed during ABT's 2023 fall season by Isabella Boylston and Aran Bell. The dance was set to Arturo Márquez's music arranged by pianist Yuja Wang. [34] For Youth America Grand Prix's 25th anniversary gala in 2024, he choreographed Matthew Whitaker's More Than Anything which was performed by ABT's Catherine Hurlin, Jake Roxander, and Isabella Boylston. [35]

For the 2022 Global Citizen Festival, he choreographed Hero by Mariah Carey. Carey sang live for the dance performance by ABT's Madison Brown, Kyra Coco, Tillie Glatz, and Aleisha Walker. [36] He created Young & Beautiful set to Lana Del Rey's music for ABT's 2024 spring tour. The dance was inspired by a 1995 PBS documentary Silver Feet which follows three students trying to get into the San Francisco Ballet school. [35] His Dance You Outta My Head, featuring a Cat Janice song, was performed by ABT's Madison Brown and Brady Farrar during the 2024 Dance Against Cancer gala. For Alabama Ballet's 2025 season closer, Whiteside choreographed TWIGS set to five FKA Twigs songs–Ride the Dragon, Two Weeks, Glass & Patron, Eusexua, and Cellophane. The dance, featuring "lots of partner work, quirky arm and hand movements, and very chic lighting," referenced the work of William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, George Balanchine, and Frederick Ashton. [37]

In November 2025, ABT announced that four choreographers, including Whiteside, were selected for the ABT Incubator 2025. [38]

Music videos and commercials

Whiteside choreographed Lover by Taylor Swift and Butterscotch Goddam by electronic music duo Fischerspooner. He was also the choreographer for the footwear company Rothy's TV commercial. [39] [40]

Modeling

Whiteside is represented by Wilhelmina Models and has modeled for Marc Jacobs, Capezio, Koio, MAC, and Glossier. [41] [42]

Music

Whiteside records electronic pop, rap, and dance hall music under the stage name JbDubs. [43] [27] [44] He writes and produces his own music and directs, choreographs, and produces his own music videos. [45] [46] The music video for his single I Hate My Job has been featured on PerezHilton.com , HuffPost , After Elton , Instinct , Shangay Spain , Up2U Thailand , and MTV3 . His music has also been featured on the Here TV network shows BOOMBOX and She's Living for This. [47]

Whiteside released his debut album Free To Love in 2011. His second album, titled Oink, was released in 2012. In 2013 he released an extended play titled Hey JB! [47]

Drag

Whiteside's drag persona Ühu Betch is inspired by his favorite childhood drink Yoo-hoo. He has been doing drag since the early 2000s with a posse of drag queens based in New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. The group, called The Dairy Queens, consists of Milk, Skim Burley, Ühu Betch, Linda Lakes, and Juggz Au Lait. After he joined ABT, night-life impresario Susanne Bartsch hired them for club nights and parties. [43] [48]

Selected repertoire

Source: [8]

Personal life

Whiteside lived in Manhattan with drag performer Dan Donigan, his partner of 12 years, until their breakup in October 2020. [49] He and Donigan were in an open relationship. [45] [50] [51] [52] In 2021, Whiteside started dating real estate developer Augie Schott after meeting him at a beach volleyball court on Fire Island. [53] [10]

Whiteside suffers from tendonitis in his knees. During a 2021 performance of The Nutcracker , he injured his patellar tendon and underwent surgery three days later. [10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Whiteside, James (2022). Center Center: A Funny, Sexy, Sad Almost-Memoir of a Boy in Ballet. New York: Penguin Books. p. 49. ISBN   9780593297858.
  2. ↑ "The Flip Side of Classical Ballet - The Gay & Lesbian Review". glreview.org. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  3. ↑ Barnett, Charlotte; Branigin, Anne; Jacobs, Shayna; Kingsberry, Janay; Chery, Samantha; Spartos, Carla; Selk, Avi; Stein, Jeff; Hernández, Arelis R. (August 18, 2021). "Review | James Whiteside isn't a typical ballet star, and his memoir isn't a typical ballet story". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  4. ↑ Tauer, Kristen (August 23, 2021). "ABT Dancer James Whiteside Channeled Roald Dahl for 'Center Center'". WWD. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Zhang, Phillip Y. (June 1, 2016). "Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside". Creative New York. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  6. ↑ "James Whiteside talks about his steady rise at American Ballet Theatre". Time Out New York. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  7. ↑ "James Whiteside: From competition kid to ABT star". Dance Informa Magazine. June 7, 2017. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  8. 1 2 "James Whiteside". Abt.org. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  9. ↑ Rizzo, Frank. "The Sit Down: James Whiteside".
  10. 1 2 3 Andrews, Arden Fanning (April 21, 2022). "A Day In the Life of the Ballet Dancer and Choreographer James Whiteside". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  11. 1 2 DeSantis, Marissa (September 6, 2017). "James Whiteside Is Collaborating With Disney Japan and It's Just as Magical as You'd Expect". Dance Magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  12. ↑ "ABT Brisbane line-up announced - Dance Australia". www.danceaustralia.com.au. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  13. ↑ admin (May 5, 2014). "Catching up with ABT Principal James Whiteside". Dance Informa Magazine. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  14. ↑ Gold, Mari S. "The American Ballet Theater's 75th Anniversary Performances". New York Arts. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  15. ↑ "James Whiteside in The Tenant".
  16. ↑ "Swan Lake". www.metopera.org. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Swan Lake". www.metopera.org. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Whipped Cream". www.metopera.org. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  19. ↑ "JAMES WHITESIDE - Q Models". Qmanagementinc.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  20. ↑ Susie (June 6, 2023). "American Ballet Theatre Presents ABTKids on Saturday, June 24 At 11:00 A.M. at Metropolitan Opera House with Host James Whiteside". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Romeo and Juliet". www.metopera.org. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Giselle". www.metopera.org. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  23. ↑ Susie (October 6, 2025). "Casting Announced for First Two Weeks of American Ballet Theatre's 2025 Fall Season at the David H. Koch Theater". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  24. ↑ Susie (October 14, 2025). "Casting Announced for Final Week of American Ballet Theatre's 2025 Fall Season at the David H. Koch Theater". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  25. ↑ Susie (November 3, 2025). "Casting Announced for American Ballet Theatre's Inaugural Spring Season at the David H. Koch Theater". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  26. ↑ "The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  27. 1 2 "Ballet Dancer, Drag Queen, Singer & Podcaster: Inside James Whiteside's Fearless, Authentic Life". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  28. ↑ "James Whiteside Presents: On the Water". Jacob's Pillow Dance Interactive. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  29. ↑ Tauer, Kristen (August 23, 2021). "ABT Dancer James Whiteside Channeled Roald Dahl for 'Center Center'". WWD. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  30. ↑ "City of Women". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  31. 1 2 "How American Ballet Theatre principal James Whiteside is revolutionizing dance". Fast Company. May 14, 2021. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  32. ↑ Lansky, Chava Pearl (September 12, 2017). "James Whiteside on Being Disney Japan's Newest Prince". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  33. 1 2 "At American Ballet Theater, New Romantics Can't Beat a Greek God". The New York Times. October 24, 2019. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  34. ↑ Vogue (October 25, 2023). "Mick Jagger, Katie Couric, and More Attend the American Ballet Theatre's Fall 2023". Vogue. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  35. 1 2 Pandolfi, Christina. "Interview: James Whiteside's YOUNG & BEAUTIFUL Makes New York Premiere at The Joyce". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  36. ↑ "ABT Incubator | American Ballet Theatre (ABT)". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on March 16, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  37. ↑ Laubacher, Kyra (May 12, 2025). "James Whiteside on Choreographing to FKA twigs for Alabama Ballet". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  38. ↑ Susie (November 6, 2025). "2025 ABTIncubator to be Held at ABT's 890 Broadway Studios from November 10–21, 2025, with Full In-House Choreographic Slate". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  39. ↑ "{{ ($root.post && $root.post.id) ? $root.post.translations[$root.lang].socialTitle : $root.seo.pageTitle | translate | stripHtml }}". www.nowness.com. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  40. ↑ "2025 Festival Artists". Vail Dance Festival. Archived from the original on June 13, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Today, Whiteside Is Experimenting With Dance Theater". Dance Magazine. July 10, 2018. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  42. ↑ "Koio x James Whiteside". Koio.co. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  43. 1 2 Schaefer, Brian (October 14, 2016). "He's a Ballet Dancer. And a Singer. And a Drag Queen". The New York Times . Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  44. ↑ "Dancer James B. Whiteside (AKA JbDubs) Is Physical Perfection - NewNowNext". Newnownext.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  45. 1 2 "EXCLUSIVE: James B. Whiteside". Loverboy Magazine. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  46. ↑ "James Whiteside is Everything". Dance Spirit. October 6, 2013. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  47. 1 2 "About". James Whiteside. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  48. ↑ "Ballet Dancer James B. Whiteside Shows Off His Body". Out.com. September 2, 2015. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  49. ↑ "Out Love: Ballet dancer James Whiteside (aka JbDubs) & performer Dan Donigan (aka Milk)". Out.com. January 12, 2015. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  50. ↑ "Milk's boyfriend, ballet star James B. Whiteside, on their open relationship". March 23, 2018. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  51. ↑ Street, Mikelle (October 5, 2020). "'Drag Race's Milk and Dancer James Whiteside Have Broken Up". Out Magazine . Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  52. ↑ Regensdorf, Laura (August 19, 2021). "James Whiteside Unwinds With Gay Pulp and In-Shower Whiskey". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  53. ↑ Regensdorf, Laura. "James Whiteside Unwinds With Gay Pulp and In-Shower Whiskey". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
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