Interview: James Whiteside's favorite things

American Ballet Theatre principal dancer and choreographer James Whiteside says he wants people to derive “comfort from the very human stories” he’s telling throughout Center Center, his “almost memoir.”

The book is a collection of humorous, absurd, wryly told personal essays that share how he became one of the nation’s most prominent primo ballerinos.

“It’s very weird to have people know intimate details of your life, and it’s funny because some people who have never seen me dance are now reading the book,” he says. “It’s strange to have people know me in a writing capacity before they know me in a dancing capacity.”

I chatted with James about the book, his partnership with St-Germain to create his very own cocktail -- aptly named 'The Ballerino' -- and some of his favorite things. Read the full interview here, via Barron's PENTA.