Enjoying Trolley Dances

Every October Jean Isaacs brings her creative dance troupe, Trolley Dances, to San Diego. It's starting to catch on in other cities, and in her opening remarks she said that she now has three different troupes performing in different cities. I went several years ago, and enjoyed it enough to ask a few friends to join me in the experience this year. Barbara, Fran, Melanie, Christie and Linda all joined in the fun. We met on a hot Saturday morning at the Nortgate Market trolley stop in Barrio Logan. This area is the heart of Chicano life and culture in San Diego, and one that the city is working hard to revitalize. Progress is evident everywhere you look. The Northgate Market is a new SUPER market. The freshest fruits and vegetables you can imagine, great prices, and lots of ethnic food items for neighborhood shoppers. There are a few small restaurants in the plaza across the street, with more to come. Also, a just completed low housing project across the street, filled already, and architecturally beautiful. Lots of bulldozers and cranes were seen wherever we walked, so more new building is happening. But back to the Trolley Dances, the purpose of our trip to Barrio Logan. The two hour+ event included six dances, one choral group, several trolley stops, and visits to Chicano Park, the new Central Library, Petco Park, and Monarch School. The dances took place at each venue. For example, the dancers performed in front of the new Central Library, using the walls and steps as props for the dance. At the Monarch School (which I will blog about at another time) we walked upstairs and watched the dancers dance below. At this site they were also accompanied by a wonderful choral group. In Chicano Park, in the midst of wonderful Chicano murals, we watched another dance group that included a young man on bicycle, flags and scarves, in addition to using a sculpture in the park as a prop in the performance. The dance is all contemporary, and the dancers come from all over. They are not a troupe that is together all year, but just for a brief practice period before the two weekend performances. Dancers from all over try out for the troupe, and they collect a wonderful group of dancers representing all ages and all ethnicities. We ended the day at Las Quatro Milpas, an iconic Mexican restaurant in Barrio Logan, where we waited outside for half an hour before placing our order. It was worth it, though, and although I wouldn't make a special trip to Barrio Logan for lunch or dinner at Las Quatro Milpas, I would definitely eat there next time I'm in Barrio Logan, and I will be there again. Next year the Trolley Dances will take place somewhere else, and that's another great thing about them, the dances and venues are always different. Put Trolley Dances on your "To do" list for next year.