CatVideoFest 2020

Ever wanted to see cat vid- eos on the big screen? At St. Anthony Main Theatre, you can do just that BY IAN KNOLL CatVideoFest 2020

The year is now 2020, and the last thing I expected to start off the decade with was cat videos. But, the time has come for this year’s national CatVideoFest, so here we are.

Hosted locally at the gorgeous St. Anthony Main Theatre, CatVideoFest is a presentation featuring classic and up-and-coming cat educational films, animations, and—you guessed it—YouTube videos. Entrees ranged from classic series like “Henri, le Chat Noir” and “Simon’s Cat” to hidden gems like “An Engineer’s Guide to Cats,” to simple, short clips lifted straight from TikTok.

Each year, a portion of the proceeds from CatVideoFest go to local cat shelters or charities. This year, that was Feline Rescue, a local group who takes in foster, shelter, and stray cats and gives them the necessary care to be put up for adoption. It’s absolutely a worthy cause, and the audience seems eager to support it. But this brings me to my only major complaint: Why do only ten percent of the proceeds go to them? I’m admittedly no expert on the finances of film events, but even if licensing is a factor, I can’t imagine literally pulling videos off the internet is particularly expensive to do.

Unsurprisingly, there’s something surreal about sitting in a crowded theater, the same place that’s shown modern classics like “Parasite” and “1917,” watching cats leap cabinet to cabinet on a fifteen foot screen. What was surprising was the reception. Tickets to all six showings were sold out well in advance, and once the projector started rolling, not a second went by without a series of laughter or “aww” rolling through the eager crowd. I thought I was done with cat videos well over a decade ago, but even I found myself bursting with laughter. As odd as it is to say about an event called CatVideoFest, this kind of unrestrained and shared sense of enjoyment is something I often find lacking when I see a movie. All in all, a near purrfect experience.

Balanchine gets a standing O at Northrop Ballet West’s Crown “Jewels”

BY ERIKA ELLIS

A great perk of being a University of Minnesota student is the $10 student rush tickets at Northrop. I recently used this opportunity to see Ballet West perform “Jewels,” one of George Balanchine’s most recognizable and iconic works. This ballet is divided into three stylistically distinctive acts with each third representing a particular gemstone. The set was minimalistic; soft gold curtains drawn to each side of the stage and a simple lighting feature that changed shape between acts allowed the dancers and their ornate jewel-inspired costumes to take center stage.

The curtain rose first on “Emeralds,” a purely classical piece focused on soft delicacy and romanticism. From a critical perspective, this section was the least memorable of the three, though it was still danced with graceful technique and intricate musicality.

The second act was “Rubies.” Completely contrasting with the quiet grace of “Emeralds,” “Rubies” was full of feisty energy and neoclassical movement. In other words, “Rubies” caught anyone who may have been snoozing after “Emeralds.” The choreography in this section is unique and specific but The dancers tackled Balanchine’s tricky precision with ease, nonstop energy, and genuine joy that the audience could feel from their seats.

The final jewel, “Diamonds” featured the largest cast of the three and was set to a beautiful Tchaikovsky symphony. The highlight of “Diamonds,” and perhaps the whole show depending on who you ask, was the pas de deux (ballet lingo for a dance between two people.) Performed by principal dancers Beckanne Sisk and Chase O’Connell (who are engaged in real life) this piece was pure romantic elegance. The athleticism and artistry of the dancers made each movement appear light as air. They made it look like breathing, and the audience was completely enchanted. “Jewels” as a whole left me feeling refreshed and inspired. Whether you’re a dance nerd or just looking for something different to do on a Saturday night, catching a ballet at Northrop might be just what you need.