Front Row with James Whiteside

Latest Episodes:

Episode 21: Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of Front Row, Jennifer and I talk about her beginnings in dance and how it’s shaped her career as an actor. We also talk about the origin of our unlikely friendship, which has been such a joy to explore. Jen talks about managing expectations, outside criticism, and navigating celebrity. She is truly a joy to interview and an angel of a person. Enjoy this episode of Front Row, with my guest, Jennifer Garner.

Jennifer Garner is an American actor, known for roles such as Sidney Bristow in the TV smash, Alias, Jenna Rink in the classic comedy 13 Going on 30, and Alison Torres in Netflix’s Yes Day, among countless others. Jennifer works as an activist for early childhood education and is a board member of Save the Children USA. She is the co-founder and chief brand officer of the organic baby food company Once Upon a Farm. She is also an advocate for anti-paparazzi campaigns among children of celebrities. Jennifer is an avid ballet and dance fan and has been a champion of her favorite dancers and dance companies.

Host: James Whiteside @jamesbwhiteside

Guest: Jennifer Garner @jennifergarner

Produced by: RedCircle @getredcircle

Edited by: Nate Gwatney @nateleeg

Art by: Javier Rivets @rivets_art

Theme: "A-Flat" by Black Violin @blackviolin

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Episode 20: Markaholic Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

Markaholic and I have worked together on my own music under the name JbDubs for years, from I Hate My Job to Wallflower and Bodega Bouquet. In this episode we talk about his work with the legendary RuPaul as well as his work with other Drag Race superstars. We talk about how music producers use social media and how different equipment affects how music sounds. I find Mark’s work so fascinating and I think you will too, here in the Front Row.

Markaholic aka Mark Byers is a Los Angeles-based songwriter & producer who has created pop songs for drag superstars such as RuPaul, Trixie Mattel, Alaska, Willam, Nina West, and many more. He is responsible for the updated version of the Rupaul’s Drag Race theme that notoriously changes the lyric “may the best woman win” to “may the best drag queen win”, opening the competition to people who may not identify as cisgender. Mark is the go-to music producer for queer entertainers on TV, in film, and on the internet.

Host: James Whiteside @jamesbwhiteside

Guest: Mark Byers aka Markaholic @markaholic

Produced by: RedCircle @getredcircle

Edited by: Nate Gwatney @nateleeg

Art by: Javier Rivets @rivets_art

Theme: "A-Flat" by Black Violin @blackviolin

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Episode 19: Isabella Boylston May 24, 2023

Show notes

Not only is Isabella Boylston my best friend and frequent dance partner, she is an international ballet star. She was born Hildur Isabella Boylston, but now goes simply by Bella. She has been a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre since 2014 and has danced nearly all the leading roles in the company’s classical repertoire. Bella has been a guest star with the Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet, The Mariinsky Ballet, and more. She has hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram and TikTok and partners with Nike, Bobbi Brown, Olay, Clarins, Chanel, and more on sponsored content as an influencer. Bella is a bonafide hustler, let’s find out how she does it all!

In this candid convo with Bella, we talk about what’s in a name, about the pressures and pitfalls of social media, and about her favorite moments from her career as a professional ballerina.

Host: James Whiteside @jamesbwhiteside

Guest: Isabella Boylston @isabellaboylston

Produced by: RedCircle @getredcircle

Edited by: Nate Gwatney @nateleeg

Art by: Javier Rivets @rivets_art

Theme: "A-Flat" by Black Violin @blackviolin

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Episode 18: Emil Cohen May 17, 2023

Show notes

I have been lucky enough to work with Emil on a number of occasions and he actually did my headshot for American Ballet Theatre. In this interview, he tells me about his side jobs to make money, how he used social media to create a buzzing portrait business, and which dead celebrity he’d like to photograph most. I’m such a fan of Emil’s work, and I hope you will be too, after listening to this episode of Front Row.

Emil Cohen is a New York-based artist and photographer. His photographs have been featured in group and solo exhibitions across the United States. His work has been published in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, People Magazine, Esquire, and Rolling Stone.

Host: James Whiteside @jamesbwhiteside

Guest: Emil Cohen @emilcohen

Produced by: RedCircle @getredcircle

Edited by: Nate Gwatney @nateleeg

Art by: Javier Rivets @rivets_art

Theme: "A-Flat" by Black Violin @blackviolin

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Episode 17: Robin Preiss Glasser May 11, 2023

Show notes

Robin Preiss Glasser is the national bestselling illustrator of many books for children, including the Fancy Nancy series, written by Jane O’Connor; Lambslide and Escape Goat, written by Ann Patchett; and Grand Jeté and Me by ballerina Allegra Kent. Robin is an alumna of the American Ballet Theatre School scholarship program under Patricia Wilde and later danced professionally with the Pennsylvania Ballet, now called Philadelphia Ballet. She lives in California with her husband.

Book description: GLORIA’S PROMISE: A Ballet Dancer’s First Step (Random House Studio and American Ballet Theatre | On Sale March 21, 2023 | Ages 4–7) is the first book in the series, which introduces readers to a young ballet dancer whose boundless determination drives her dream of being accepted to the renowned ABT Summer Intensive Training program. Glasser, an alumna of American Ballet Theatre’s training program and former soloist with Pennsylvania Ballet, draws from personal experience to bring exquisite and authentic detail to every illustration in this inspiring and heartwarming story.

Host: James Whiteside @jamesbwhiteside

Guest: Robin Preiss Glasser @robinglasser

Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman

Produced by: RedCircle @getredcircle

Edited by: Nate Gwatney @nateleeg

Art by: Javier Rivets @rivets_art

Theme: "A-Flat" by Black Violin @blackviolin

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Episode 16: Sascha Radetsky May 03, 2023

Show notes

This episode is fascinating. I talk to Sascha about his long career with ABT, his starring roles in Center Stage and Flesh and Bone, as well as his literary aspirations and fears. We try to figure out the definition of the word pedagogy and if “gogue” can be used as a verb as in “You’ve got to be goguing me!” I hope you enjoy this candid conversation with Sascha. This is Front Row.

Sascha Radetsky has had the career of a creative vagabond. Not only was he a soloist with American Ballet Theatre and a principal with Dutch National Ballet, he was the star of 2000s “Center Stage” and 2015s “Flesh and Bone” among other film and television projects. Sascha is now the artistic director of American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company, which is a pipeline for the world’s best talent into the main company. 80% of all current members of ABT are former Studio Company alumni.

Host: James Whiteside @jamesbwhiteside

Guest: Sascha Radetsky @sascharadetsky

Produced by: RedCircle @getredcircle

Edited by: Nate Gwatney @nateleeg

Art by: Javier Rivets @rivets_art

Theme: "A-Flat" by Black Violin @blackviolin

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
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Episode 15: Eric Winterling Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

Eric and I talk about beads, beads, and more beads. He tells me about atelier morale and what it takes to go from costume design sketch to screen and stage ready. This is honestly a world I don’t know much about and i loved learning the ins and out of this mysterious industry with one of the world’s best. Enjoy this episode of Front Row with my guest, Eric Winterling!

Eric Winterling, founded his atelier over 30 years ago and it is one of New York City’s premier custom costume studios. Working together with costume designers, he transforms their visions into one-of-a-kind costumes for stage and screen. His studio has made costumes for Wicked, Funny Girl, and Frozen on broadway, among countless others, as well as costumes for screen, such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Gilded Age, and Respect, the Aretha Franklin biopic.

Host: James Whiteside @jamesbwhiteside

Guest: Eric Winterling @ericwinterlinginc

Produced by: RedCircle @getredcircle

Edited by: Nate Gwatney @nateleeg

Art by: Javier Rivets @rivets_art

Theme: "A-Flat" by Black Violin @blackviolin

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode 14: Daytripper Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

Okay, here’s the sitch. This special episode of Front Row is split into two parts. In part one, I interview my codirector slash coproducer, Kylie Juggert, as well as Megan Eleanor Clark, the director of photography for the Fire Island portion of the film. In part two, you will hear an episode of Conversations on Dance, a podcast hosted by my friends Michael Sean Breeden and Rebecca King Ferraro, during which they grill me about the creation of “Daytripper”, plus other fascinating tidbits. Make sure to subscribe to their podcast. They’re fabulous! I hope you enjoy this certified fresh episode of Front Row and don’t forget to watch Daytripper, this Sunday night at 10:55pm Eastern on TV, web, or the AllArtsTV app. And tell your friends and fam to watch too!

This is a special episode of Front Row focusing on “Daytripper”, a modern silent film that I wrote, directed, produced, and choreographed. The 30 minute film premieres April 23 at 10:55 p.m. Eastern on the ALL ARTS broadcast channel, site and app and follow my socials @jamesbwhiteside for exclusive behind the scenes content on the making of the film. Here’s the official preview: American Ballet Theatre (ABT) principal dancer and choreographer James Whiteside created this lyrical modern silent film that tells the story of two men serendipitously meeting and falling in love on a beautiful summer day in Fire Island Pines. Created by Whiteside and Korean American filmmaker Kylie Juggert, “Daytripper” features performances by Lloyd Knight, principal dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company, and Jake Tribus, artistic associate with Gibney Company.

Host: James Whiteside @jamesbwhiteside

Guest: Kylie Juggert & Megan Eleanor Clark @InCommonFilms Michael Sean Breeden & Rebecca King Ferraro @conversationsondance

Produced by: RedCircle @getredcircle

Edited by: Nate Gwatney @nateleeg

Art by: Javier Rivets @rivets_art

Theme: "A-Flat" by Black Violin @blackviolin

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode 13: Susan Jaffe Apr 12, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, I speak to my new boss! Susan Jaffe is the new Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre, the company I have been dancing with since 2012. We talk about her dreams for the company, its repertoire, as well as her rich history with ABT and ballet in general. It's a good one! Don't miss it.

Susan Jaffe (born 1962) is an American ballet dancer and arts administrator. She is currently the artistic director of the American Ballet Theatre, where she had danced for 22 years and held the rank of principal dancer. She previously served as the dean of the School of Dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the artistic director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.^[1]^[2] and the American Ballet Theatre.^[3]

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Episode 12: Arthur Pita Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

I adore Arthur. In this episode, he and I talk about his current project, an expansion of the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”, his work with ballet’s biggest stars, and the challenges of creating during times of social change. I appreciate his candor as we discuss difficult and necessary topics. Arthur is a fascinating creator and I can’t wait for you to hear his interview in this episode of Front Row.

Arthur Pita is an award winning choreographer and director. He has created for The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, and many more. Arthur has created works for ballet stars Edward Watson, Natalia Osipova, Ivan Vasiliev, Sergei Polunin, Maria Kowroski, Sarah Lamb, and Robbie Fairchild. His own company, Ballo Arthur Pita, has created evening length works and performed and toured all over the world. He is an Olivier award nominee and he has choreographed for films such as Ex Machina, Jupiter Ascending, and Charlie’s Angels.

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