Latest news with #Courtney
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Ballet22 proves gender norms have no place in dance with electrifying S.F. show
A note inside the program for Ballet22's 2025 season encourages the audience to 'please clap and cheer for the dancers.' But the raucously adoring crowd at Cowell Theater for opening night hardly needed the reminder. Founded in Oakland in 2020, Ballet22 is a small but ambitious pick-up troupe with a mission that, in these politically vicious times, presents a bold and joyful resistance. This is a company of men, trans and non-binary dancers who perform in pointe shoes, and not — as with the long-famous drag troupe Les Ballets Trockadero — for the sake of farce. Put more simply: in a world where gender norms are all too often tools of oppression, Ballet22 celebrates the freedom of being fully and unapologetically yourself. These summer shows, which kicked off Saturday, July 19, mark the group's ninth in-person program. But as attacks on gender non-conformity intensify, Ballet22's vision keeps becoming more urgent — just as the dancers' pointe technique grows more impressive. Zsilas Michael Hughes, a corps member with Seattle's Pacific Northwest Ballet, was iconic on Saturday, their broad shoulders and muscled bare legs offset by the delicate white feathers of a 'Swan Lake' costume. Hughes had a lovely rubato quality, lowering that high développé leg to fifth on pointe oh so slowly. And if they struggled a bit with the balance-testing arm movements on the step up to an attitude, such honesty of effort is part of what Ballet22 offers. Daniel R. Durrett, a Boston Ballet soloist who is also one of Ballet22's three co-directors, was happy to admit in a mid-show curtain speech that he'd just had a small slip in his 'Esmeralda' variation, because 'I made it work.' (Indeed he did, improvising a cover for skipping that third round of tambourine-to-toe taps because that working foot pushing into relevé said, 'No sorry, not today.') As is customary at Ballet22 shows, every dancer got to show off a classical variation. Victor Maguad, who usually dances with Sacramento Ballet, pulled off a spectacular series of attitude hops on pointe in Leonid Lavrovsky's delicate choreography for 'Walpurgistnacht.' Trevor Williams was wonderfully playful in the famously devilish variation by Marius Petipa for 'Le Talisman.' Jake Speakman rocked the Italian fouettés in Medora's Act 2 variation from 'Le Corsaire.' But my favorite was Kobe Courtney, who trained at the San Francisco Ballet School, ravishingly fluid in her backbends as she portrayed the temple dancer Nikiya's death from 'La Bayadere.' It was Courtney who shone brightest, too, in 'City of Humans,' a sometimes serene, sometimes sassy trio to Schubert by American Ballet Theatre principal James Whiteside. Originally choreographed for three female dancers, it was previously titled 'City of Women.' In this iteration, Maguad moved with a beautiful legato smoothness. But it was Courtney who commanded the space with huge jumps and a gorgeously stretched échappé. The crowning accomplishment of the night was 'You Can Have Me!' a world premiere by former Forsythe Company member and now kNoname Artist director Roderick George, created in just two weeks. The sextet — dressed in brown tunics, sans pointe shoes — launched with a disco ball and a hip-shimmying romp through Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love.' It was something of a gut-punch when the next section brought voiceovers of newscasters discussing the AIDS epidemic, as the dancers moved in slow motion. Maguad had a beseeching solo to a clip from writer and performance artist Alok Vaid-Menon's 2024 Ford Foundation talk: 'The reason that people are seeking to oppress you is not because you are weak or fragile. It's precisely because you're powerful and tremendous.' In the final section, to music by Pittsburgh performance collective Slowdanger, Hughes and Durrett shared an intense and often subtly virtuosic duet, Hughes curled on the floor as Durrett danced on above. The work was an ensemble statement of committed higher purpose. As co-founder Theresa Knudson announced from the stage, Ballet22 will be back at the Cowell next July, and tickets are already on sale.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘The Parent Trap' actress Courtney Gilberto talks getting bullied after her role; Also spills beans on her friendship with Lindsay Lohan
Courtney Gilberto, best known for playing Hallie's friend Nicole in 'The Parent Trap,' recently opened up about her experiences in the industry. She revealed behind-the-scene stories from her time on the film's sets and shared her experience of being known as the 'tie-dye girl'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Gilberto on getting selected for the role and the bullying that followed Courtney recalled all of the things that went down when she was cast in 'The Parent Trap'. During an interview with People, the actress revealed that she had to go to multiple auditions for the role, which ended up demotivating her a lot. She also talked about how her agent at the time also gave up hope, especially due to the fact that her height had been pointed out as an issue. She shared, 'I was tall, and when they did a height check, it kept coming up that my height wouldn't match up with Lindsay [Lohan's]. Then I randomly got a call saying the casting director wanted me to come in'. The actress also later revealed that although she did not think much of it, after the movie was released theatrically, she ended up getting bullied for it. While talking about her role, she shared that at the age of 11, she was just 'really happy' about the opportunity to film a Hollywood movie. She added, however, that she would get bullied after the film was released. She shared that she was "picked on and got bullied so bad about it, really up until like high school'. Courtney on her friendship with Lohan Courtney also shared that while on the sets of 'The Parent Trap', she and ended up becoming good friends at the time. She shared that since both of their families were from New York, they used to hang out all the time and managed to become really good friends. This bond, however, did not last as long as Gilberto thought it would. Citing a lack of technology, the star revealed that the two could not keep in contact and lost touch over the years after the film was released. "We weren't online like that yet, in that sense, so we didn't really have the option to stay in touch on our own. And Lindsay's mom was really focused on making her a star', she shared.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Egg-Freezing, Divorce — and More (Unexpected) Reasons to Give a Gift
In this edition of The Gift, we make the case for delighting your loved ones when they least expect it. Say, if they freeze their eggs? Plus, the best gifts for Gen Z and what to give a hobbyist. Last summer, I schlepped to my friend Madi's apartment carrying a tote bag crammed with delicate pressed paper, soft pink ribbon, gold washi tape, and all manner of stickers. Madi and I were on a mission: to craft a present for our friend Courtney, who was preparing to freeze her eggs. Egg-freezing is not exactly a traditional gift-giving occasion. There wasn't an egg party (although that's a really good idea — write that down), and Courtney didn't register for egg-freezing gifts (again, would have been brilliant). But in more than a decade of friendship, Courtney has celebrated Madi and me over and over again: ordering custom confetti to mark our engagements, stuffing gift bags for our bachelorette parties, and even showing up with a pastry-shaped Jellycat after I finished baking every recipe in a cookbook. This occasion certainly felt just as momentous, if not more so, than those. And she was going to need our help getting through 12 days of self-administered shots. What to gift her, though, was a puzzle. Freezer food seemed too dire; flowers too maudlin. Then Madi pitched a perfect plan: We give her 12 treats, one to open after each round of shots, like a wacky, very-much-out-of-season Advent calendar. Taking inspiration from my colleague, editor Catherine Kast, who is on the record as queen of DIY Advent calendars, I retrieved an empty, years-old one to repurpose. Then I went hunting for joyful, tiny treats to fit in each pocket: things like a baby Baggu in the strawberry print, delectable Swedish gummies (Madi did not let me get the egg-shaped ones — apparently too on the nose), glossy lip balms, sample-sized vials of perfume, scrunchies, and micro claw clips. If I were doing this again, I would toss in an adorable fruit-shaped bag charm, too. We tucked each prize into a pocket, taped floral-patterned paper over all the openings, and tied it with a rose-colored bow to finish. You don't need big, celebratory life events to give your friends presents. Sometimes the littler moments — when they're going through something difficult or facing a big change — can be the most meaningful times to show up with a treat. When writer Ivy Elrod's sister was taking the bar, Ivy gave her a big, snack-y care package to fuel her, and 'she ended up being the only lawyer with snacks in the exam.' (This Japanese snack box is a particular favorite of my gift-expert colleagues.) I love the idea of giving a friend who is finalizing a divorce something celebratory, as long as it feels appropriate — writer Alexander Aciman once delighted a recently divorced friend with these vibrant, handblown champagne flutes. And on a sillier note, after newsletters editor Haley Jo Lewis' boyfriend finished putting together their home office, he unveiled it with a mini inflatable tube man on her desk — a sorry-for-the-house-being-a-wreck present. And as for Courtney, after the first few days, she was a total pro at handling the needles, breezily jabbing herself after breakfast or on the couch, mid-Love Island episode. But still she sent pictures of her prizes afterward, grinning, the animal-shaped ice packs that she stuck to her abdomen after each prick peeking out above her waistband. 'Your support was the actual gift, obviously,' Courtney said. 'But the calendar was a small reminder of it every day.' Which is, in my opinion, exactly how a gift should feel — no matter the occasion.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
School which banned girl, 12, from ‘diversity day' for Union Jack dress closes early for summer over ‘extremist threats'
THE SCHOOL which banned a girl from wearing a Union Jack dress has been forced to close following "extremist threats". Courtney, 12, had chosen to wear the dress as part of the Advertisement 4 Courtney was banned from wearing a Union Jack dress at her school Credit: Roland Leon 4 Now, the school has been shut down following 'extremist' threats Credit: Roland Leon Bilton School in Rugby, The school released a letter to parents on Thursday in which is said it was receiving "extremist abuse online and via our telephone systems". Headteacher Jayne Delves and Ranjit Samra, CEO of Stowe Valley Multi-Academy Trust, both said that members of staff had been threatened. The letter said that the "nature and tone" of the threats had escalated in recent days too. Advertisement Read More on UK News The letter continued: "While we have been working closely with our multi-agency partners to address the situation, our primary responsibility remains the safety and wellbeing of every child and member of staff. "This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We understand the disruption this may cause to your families and your child's education, but the safety of our school community must come first." The abuse followed an online frenzy over Courtney's decision to wear the now controversial dress on her school's Culture Celebration Day. Courtney had chosen the Union Jack dress in reference to the iconic outfit worn by Spice Girl Geri Halliwell. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Exclusive Exclusive However, she was allegedly told: 'You get to celebrate being British every day, this is for everybody else.' The 12-year-old had planned to read a speech about tea, Shakespeare, fish and chips and the royals as part of her presentation. Sir Keir issues rallying cry to 'reclaim our flag' for St George's Day as PM savagely attacks those who 'sow division' Courtney was offered the chance to wear second-hand uniform, instead of the dress she had chosen. When she refused, her father, Stuart Field, arrived at the school and took her home. Advertisement Stuart said the school had issued an apology before slamming them for "virtue signalling". He said: 'Her head of year bizarrely said that if she had worn a suit of armour or a nurse's outfit, she probably would have been allowed. It's ridiculous. "The irony is they were having a cultural diversity day and yet they singled out a group of people. 'She's a Advertisement Stuart added that another mum at the school told him that her son had been banned from wearing a farmer's outfit. Ahead of the event, the school's headteacher had described the Culture Celebration day as an opportunity for "celebrating the rich cultural diversity within our school community". 4 Bilton School in Rugby says that its members of staff have been 'threatened' Credit: Roland Leon In her speech, Courtney had hoped to say: 'We have lots of traditions including drinking tea, our love of talking about the weather and our Royal Family. Advertisement 'We have amazing history, like kings and queens, castles and writers like She was also planning on saying: 'Sometimes at school we only hear about other cultures — which is great because learning about different countries is interesting and important. 'But it can feel like being British doesn't count as a culture, just because it's the majority.' Speaking out about the incident, a spokesperson for the school said: 'We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies. Advertisement "We've since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. 'We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring every student feels recognised and supported.' Courtney's dad has also suggested that other children carrying He said: "Another with a Advertisement "It's ironic they were having a cultural diversity day but then decided to single out a group of people." 4 Courtney said that her dress was a reference to Geri Halliwell Credit: PA More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Advertisement Like us on Facebook at
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
School which banned girl, 12, from ‘diversity day' for Union Jack dress closes early for summer over ‘extremist threats'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE SCHOOL which banned a girl from wearing a Union Jack dress has been forced to close following "extremist threats". Courtney, 12, had chosen to wear the dress as part of the school's Culture Celebration day but was told the day was for "everybody else". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Courtney was banned from wearing a Union Jack dress at her school Credit: Roland Leon 4 Now, the school has been shut down following 'extremist' threats Credit: Roland Leon Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, announced that it was closing "in the interests of student and staff safety" following threats. The school released a letter to parents on Thursday in which is said it was receiving "extremist abuse online and via our telephone systems". Headteacher Jayne Delves and Ranjit Samra, CEO of Stowe Valley Multi-Academy Trust, both said that members of staff had been threatened. The letter said that the "nature and tone" of the threats had escalated in recent days too. The letter continued: "While we have been working closely with our multi-agency partners to address the situation, our primary responsibility remains the safety and wellbeing of every child and member of staff. "This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We understand the disruption this may cause to your families and your child's education, but the safety of our school community must come first." The abuse followed an online frenzy over Courtney's decision to wear the now controversial dress on her school's Culture Celebration Day. Courtney had chosen the Union Jack dress in reference to the iconic outfit worn by Spice Girl Geri Halliwell. However, she was allegedly told: 'You get to celebrate being British every day, this is for everybody else.' The 12-year-old had planned to read a speech about tea, Shakespeare, fish and chips and the royals as part of her presentation. Sir Keir issues rallying cry to 'reclaim our flag' for St George's Day as PM savagely attacks those who 'sow division' Courtney was offered the chance to wear second-hand uniform, instead of the dress she had chosen. When she refused, her father, Stuart Field, arrived at the school and took her home. Stuart said the school had issued an apology before slamming them for "virtue signalling". He said: 'Her head of year bizarrely said that if she had worn a suit of armour or a nurse's outfit, she probably would have been allowed. It's ridiculous. "The irony is they were having a cultural diversity day and yet they singled out a group of people. 'She's a grade-A student and they have vilified her and punished her for being proud of being British.' Stuart added that another mum at the school told him that her son had been banned from wearing a farmer's outfit. Ahead of the event, the school's headteacher had described the Culture Celebration day as an opportunity for "celebrating the rich cultural diversity within our school community". 4 Bilton School in Rugby says that its members of staff have been 'threatened' Credit: Roland Leon In her speech, Courtney had hoped to say: 'We have lots of traditions including drinking tea, our love of talking about the weather and our Royal Family. 'We have amazing history, like kings and queens, castles and writers like Shakespeare.' She was also planning on saying: 'Sometimes at school we only hear about other cultures — which is great because learning about different countries is interesting and important. 'But it can feel like being British doesn't count as a culture, just because it's the majority.' Speaking out about the incident, a spokesperson for the school said: 'We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies. "We've since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. 'We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring every student feels recognised and supported.' Courtney's dad has also suggested that other children carrying flags belonging to Wales and England weren't allowed in either. He said: "Another with a St George's flag and another with a Welsh flag were not allowed in either. It was ridiculous. It just seemed anything that was remotely British wasn't allowed. "It's ironic they were having a cultural diversity day but then decided to single out a group of people." 4 Courtney said that her dress was a reference to Geri Halliwell Credit: PA More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
