James B. Whiteside Explained
James B. Whiteside (born 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.
Early life and training
Whiteside was born in Fairfield, Connecticut. He grew up in Fairfield and in Bridgeport.[1] He began his dance training at the D’Valda & Sirico Dance and Music Centre when he was nine years old.[2] He began training in jazz, tap, and acrobatic dance and did not begin studying classical ballet until he was a teenager.[3] He later attended the Virginia School of the Arts and trained under the direction of Petrus Bosman and David Keener.[4]
Career
Ballet
In 2002 he joined Boston Ballet II, eventually joining the corps de ballet of Boston Ballet in 2003. He was promoted to soloist in 2006, first soloist in 2008, and principal dancer with Boston Ballet in 2009. Whiteside left Boston Ballet and joined American Ballet Theatre as a soloist in September 2012. He was promoted to principal dancer in October 2013.
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.[5] In 2018, he starred in Arthur Pita’s dance/theater work The Tenant at The Joyce Theater in New York City.
In 2019, his choreographed work New American Romance debuted in 2019.[6]
Whiteside hosts his own podcast series on Premier Dance Network called The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside.[7] [8]
Modeling
Whiteside is represented by Wilhelmina Models and has modeled for Marc Jacobs, Capezio, Koio, MAC, and Glossier.[9] [10]
Music
Whiteside records electronic pop, rap, and dance hall music under the stage name JbDubs.[8] [11] He writes and produces his own music and directs, choreographs, and produces his own music videos.[12] [13] 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.[14]
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![14]
Drag
Whiteside performs as a drag queen in New York City's drag scene under the stage name Ühu Betch.[15] [16] He is a member of a drag ensemble called Dairy Queens.[17] [18] He has his own line of clothing at Drag Queen Merch.[19]
Selected repertoire
Boston Ballet
American Ballet Theatre
Created roles
- The Man in AfterEffect
- Harlequin in Ratmansky’s Harlequinade
- Dionysius in Of Love and Rage
- Zephyr in The Seasons
- AFTERITE
- Garden Blue
- Serenade after Plato’s Symposium
- A Time There Was
- With a Chance of Rain
- Dream within a Dream (deferred)
Choreographed works
- City of Women for ABT Incubator
- Sway for Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night’s Swing
- New American Romance for American Ballet Theatre[6]
Source:[4]
Personal life
Whiteside lived in Manhattan with Dan Donigan, his partner of 12 years.[20] He and Donigan were in an open relationship.[12] [21] The couple ended their relationship in October 2020.[22]
In 2021, he started dating Augie Schott.[23]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside . Phillip Y. . Zhang . June 1, 2016 . Creative New York . May 23, 2019 . August 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200829131520/https://nyc.moma.org/isabella-boylston-and-james-whiteside-cf4467e7ca09?gi=8ee8096bcf3d . live .
- Web site: James Whiteside talks about his steady rise at American Ballet Theatre . Time Out New York . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184829/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/dance/james-whiteside-talks-about-his-steady-rise-at-american-ballet-theatre . live .
- Web site: James Whiteside: From competition kid to ABT star . June 7, 2017 . Dance Informa Magazine . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184828/https://www.danceinforma.com/2017/06/07/james-whiteside-from-competition-kid-to-abt-star/ . live .
- Web site: James Whiteside . Abt.org . April 15, 2020 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184828/https://www.abt.org/people/james-whiteside/ . live .
- Web site: JAMES WHITESIDE - Q Models . Qmanagementinc.com . May 23, 2019 . August 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200829131521/https://www.qmanagementinc.com/talent/james-whiteside?agency=ny&main_portfolio=NYC+Q+TOO%28Website%29&portfolio=NYC+Q+TOO%28Website%29 . live .
- News: At American Ballet Theater, New Romantics Can't Beat a Greek God . New York Times . October 24, 2019 . April 15, 2020 . April 19, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200419070946/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/24/arts/dance/ABT-apollo-james-whiteside-gemma-bond.html . live .
- Web site: The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside on Apple Podcasts . Apple Podcasts . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184832/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stage-rightside-with-james-whiteside/id1111803118 . live .
- Web site: Ballet Dancer, Drag Queen, Singer & Podcaster: Inside James Whiteside's Fearless, Authentic Life . Billboard.com . May 23, 2019 . June 18, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190618105715/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8460061/james-whiteside-ballet-podcast-drag . live .
- Web site: Today, Whiteside Is Experimenting With Dance Theater . July 10, 2018 . Dance Magazine . May 23, 2019 . August 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200801020446/https://www.dancemagazine.com/james-whiteside-2585231787.html?rebelltitem=4 . live .
- Web site: Koio x James Whiteside . Koio.co . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523185055/https://www.koio.co/blogs/the-collective/koio-x-james-whiteside . live .
- Web site: Dancer James B. Whiteside (AKA JbDubs) Is Physical Perfection - NewNowNext . Newnownext.com . May 23, 2019 . April 10, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190410225605/http://www.newnownext.com/dancer-james-b-whiteside-aka-jbdubs-is-physical-perfection/09/2015/ . live .
- Web site: EXCLUSIVE: James B. Whiteside . Loverboy Magazine . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184832/https://www.loverboymagazine.com/james-b-whiteside/ . live .
- Web site: James Whiteside is Everything . October 6, 2013 . Dance Spirit . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184830/https://www.dancespirit.com/james-whiteside-is-everything-2326247671.html . live .
- Web site: About . James Whiteside . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184830/http://www.jameswhiteside.org/jbdubs-about . live .
- Web site: Meet The Queens . James Whiteside . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184830/http://www.jameswhiteside.org/meet-the-queens . live .
- Web site: What It's Like to Start Wearing Makeup as a 12-Year-Old Boy . Allure.com . February 12, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184830/https://www.allure.com/story/james-whiteside-ballet-dancer-interview-makeup-mascara-and-masculinity . live .
- Web site: He's a Ballet Dancer. And a Singer. And a Drag Queen. . Brian . Schaefer . October 14, 2016 . May 23, 2019 . . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523234714/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/arts/dance/hes-a-ballet-dancer-and-a-singer-and-a-drag-queen.html . live .
- Web site: Ballet Dancer James B. Whiteside Shows Off His Body . September 2, 2015 . Out.com . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184829/https://www.out.com/popnography/2015/9/02/ballet-dancer-james-b-whiteside-shows-his-body . live .
- Web site: JAMES WHITESIDE – dragqueenmerch . Dragqueenmerch.com . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184828/https://www.dragqueenmerch.com/collections/james-whiteside . live .
- Web site: Out Love: Ballet dancer James Whiteside (aka JbDubs) & performer Dan Donigan (aka Milk) . January 12, 2015 . Out.com . May 23, 2019 . May 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184827/https://www.out.com/out-exclusives/love-issue/2015/01/12/out-love-ballet-dancer-james-whiteside-aka-jbdubs-performer-dan . live .
- Web site: Milk's boyfriend, ballet star James B. Whiteside, on their open relationship . March 23, 2018 . 2019-05-23 . 2019-05-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523184848/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/james-whiteside-milk-ballet/#gs.ddjqyp . live .
- Web site: 'Drag Race's Milk and Dancer James Whiteside Have Broken Up. Street. Mikelle. 5 October 2020. Out Magazine. 2 January 2021.
- Regensdorf. Laura. James Whiteside Unwinds With Gay Pulp and In-Shower Whiskey. 2022-01-25. Vanity Fair. August 19, 2021 . en-US.