ABT Principal James Whiteside hosts podcast

American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer James Whiteside launched a new podcast series earlier this month called “Stage Rightside.” A production of the Premier Dance Network, the series is described as “an interview-based foray into the interesting and often strange world of professional ballet.”

For each podcast, Whiteside meets with his fellow dancers, choreographers, costume designers, stage crew and makeup artists (you name it really) for comedic, yet informative, discussions. Each one is brought to you “live” from his dressing room backstage at the Metropolitan Theatre in New York.

Whiteside said in his Instagram announcement, “Join me as I interview dancers, choreographers, wardrobe, makeup and more in this conversational and humorous podcast.”

The first podcast, which introduces Whiteside himself, was released on May 9. The next explains the podcast’s mission and teases upcoming guests. For May 11’s podcast Whiteside “dishes the dirt on what roles he’ll be dancing, and with whom, this Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House with ABT.”

Fellow ABT Principals Isabella Boylston and Stella Abrera are featured for his first official interview posted May 13. Then Whiteside speaks with costume designers Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung about fashion, AOL screen names, off-brand Italian hairspray and queer politics in his latest.

Listen in for free on iTunes at itunes.apple.com. Read an interview with Whiteside featured in Dance Informa’s May 2014 edition here.