How Damian Woetzel jeté-ed his way from ballet phenom to head of The Juilliard School

04/29/25 • 36 min

Damian Woetzel got addicted to dance when he was 11 years old. While his “dirty secret” is that ballet was never that hard for him, his experience as a young boy in the world of dance wasn’t always easy.

In this episode, Damian takes us backstage on his remarkable journey from being called “twinkle toes” in high school, to becoming a principal dancer and choreographer for the New York City Ballet, to his influential second act as the president of The Juilliard School and an advocate for arts education. Here are his songs.

Knee Play 5 - Philip Glass
We are the World 1985 - USA for Africa
More Than This - Roxy Music
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Tom Traubert’s Blues - Tom Waits
Other Song - Caroline Shaw
Freedom - Jon Batiste

Listen to Damian Woetzel’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

Knee Play 5 - Philip Glass
We are the World 1985 - USA for Africa
More Than This - Roxy Music
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Tom Traubert’s Blues - Tom Waits
Other Song - Caroline Shaw
Freedom - Jon Batiste

Listen to Damian Woetzel’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

Previous Episode

Embracing ‘amor prohibido’ with singer David Archuleta

At the age of 16, David Archuleta captured hearts as the runner-up on American Idol. But behind the charismatic performer on stage was a young man struggling to reconcile his Mormon upbringing with his queer identity. In this episode, David shares how he nearly got married to women several times, contemplated suicide, and ultimately let go of everything he’d been taught it meant to be “good.” Here are his songs:

Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Amor Prohibido - Selena
It’s Okay To Cry - SOPHIE
Jireh - Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music (feat. Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine)
If It’s Not God - Maddie Zahm
Hell Together - David Archuleta
Freedom! - George Michael

Listen to David Archuleta's full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

Next Episode

The White Lotus’ Natasha Rothwell on the 'angsty' music that shaped her

Long before Natasha Rothwell started stealing scenes as Belinda on The White Lotus or Kelli on Insecure, she was a self-described people-pleaser and peacemaker (yes, she’s a Libra). In this episode, Natasha reveals how creating some of the most iconic characters on TV today has been a form of self-discovery – one that has transformed her from a military kid trying to fit in into a creative force who has fallen deeply in love with herself. Here are her songs.

Riverside by Kirk Franklin & The Family
Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra, Count Basie
Oh My God - Jay-Z
I Have Nothing - Whitney Houston
You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette
She Used to Be Mine (from Waitress) - Sara Bareilles
Fix You - Coldplay

Listen to Natasha Rothwell’s full playlist on Spotify. Find the transcript of this episode at lifeinsevensongs.com. Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected].