How I Work: James Ogden II, Company Stage Manager for Charlotte Ballet

Led by internationally acclaimed President and Artistic Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Charlotte Ballet is known for its strong dancers and versatile repertoire, ranging from classical ballet to bold, contemporary works. The company’s 28 professional dancers annually present five performance series in Charlotte during a season spanning from October to April.

The Charlotte Ballet Academy trains 700 students annually and the company has nationally recognized educational and community programs.

Office location:

Uptown – 10th & Tryon

Job Title:

Company Stage Manager for Charlotte Ballet

What do you do?

I work directly under the executive leadership to bring to life the vision of the artistic leadership. I create and manage artistic budgets as well as manage artistic contracts.  I provide practical and organizational support to the artists throughout the rehearsal process and performances.

Commute (how and how long?)

Drive from Independence and Idlewild – Approx. 15 minutes with traffic

What do you do during your commute?

Listen to music. Lately it has been 90s R&B/Hip-Hop

Phone Type:

Samsung Galaxy S7

Desk photo:

Computer:

Lenovo Laptop & iMac

Gadgets you can’t live without:

Bluetooth headphones

Do you listen to music while you work?

Only the music coming from the studios or the stage.  The dancers have been rehearsing Dwight Rhoden’s The Groove non-stop lately, so a lot of 80s club music. Craziba, Sirs!, Pet Shop Boys. Pretty soon it will be the Nutcracker score.

What software are you a power user of?

Qlab.  I use it to program the audio playback for all of the company’s performances.

Social media habits:

Instagram/Snapchat/Facebook – All are too addicting and distracting, but I love them.

To-do list manager:

The flags in Outlook.  They are my life!

What everyday thing are you really good at?

Multitasking.  I’m always working on several things at the same time.  We’re constantly planning for upcoming seasons while neck deep in the current one.

What’s your one favorite thing about your job?

It is never boring.  There are always world renown choreographers and designers traveling from all over to work with the dancers here in Charlotte. We currently have Erez Zohar in from Israel to stage Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16. In March, we will have Alonzo King in from San Francisco to help the company bring back one of his earlier works, MAP.

Sleep routine:

I typically get 7-9 hours of sleep every night.  I generally go to bed at around midnight and wake up around 7:30am.  I love my sleep and will rarely sacrifice it.

What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

Steel-cut oatmeal and WATER. I drink lots and lots of water.

If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you be doing?

I wonder this same thing.

Best job advice you’ve received:

Understanding what is and what is not under your control.  As long as you have done what you can, there is nothing to stress about.

What’s one thing people don’t know about Charlotte that they should?

We have a professional ballet company! I still meet people who don’t know much about Charlotte Ballet. Our company of 28 professional dancers live and work in Charlotte and perform contemporary repertoire as well as storybook ballets like Nutcracker.