Fun photos of Trolley Dances in water fountain!

Dancers in the fountain at San Diego's Waterfront Park reach skyward during the Trolley Dances.
Dancers in the fountain at San Diego’s Waterfront Park reach skyward during the Trolley Dances.

This morning I caught the very first performance of the Trolley Dances. The venue for the first stage of the Trolley Dances in 2015 is the County Administration Center Waterfront Park–to be exact, the long fountain on the north side of the County Administration Building.

When I arrived, a group of dancers was rehearsing and a videographer was setting up near the end of the fountain where the audience would watch. After a few minutes, the first mobile audience arrived, and I enjoyed a cool performance. And I mean cool. It was a water dance! On a very warm and muggy morning, I wouldn’t have minded rolling through and leaping about the refreshing water, either! But, alas, nobody who is sane would pay even a nickel to watch me dance.

The Trolley Dances is a unique tradition in San Diego. Put on by the San Diego Dance Theater, the outdoor performances occur in often surprising public places.Ā  Those who watch get started every 45 minutes, traveling from one site to the next on foot and by public transit. This year, groups travel from the Waterfront Park to Balboa Park, taking one of the new MTS Rapid buses from Santa Fe Depot.

Anyone in San Diego who loves dance must check out the Trolley Dances. Performances continue throughout the day on Saturdays and Sundays, September 26 – 27 and October 3 – 4. More info can be found on their website.

Rehearsing and getting the video camera ready before the first Trolley Dances mobile audience arrives at 10 o'clock.
Rehearsing and getting the video camera ready before the first Trolley Dances mobile audience arrives at 10 o’clock.
A beautiful venue for a dance. Palm trees along the Embarcadero and San Diego Bay provide a perfect stage.
A beautiful venue for a dance. Palm trees along the Embarcadero and San Diego Bay provide a perfect stage.
Dancers rehearse the very beginning of the performance, which involves rolling out through the shallow fountain.
Dancers rehearse the very beginning of the performance, which involves rolling out through the shallow fountain.
They're rolling! During the summer, many tourists and visitors love running through the water. On such a warm morning, I almost jumped in myself!
They’re rolling! During the summer, many tourists and visitors love running through the water. On such a warm morning, I almost jumped in myself!
This nice lady saw my camera and provided a super smile!
This nice lady saw my camera and provided a super smile!
Stephan Koplowitz, an award-winning director and choreographer provides the dancers with some final advice before the first audience arrives.
Stephan Koplowitz, an award-winning director and choreographer provides the dancers with some final advice before the first audience arrives.
And here they come! Guides with Trolley Dances signs lead the way to the first unusual outdoor dance site.
And here they come! Guides with Trolley Dances signs lead the way to the first unusual outdoor dance site.
The dancers are lying in the water as everyone trickles in and finds a place to sit or stand.
The dancers are lying in the water as everyone trickles in and finds a place to sit or stand.
The first audience is ready! Here we go!
The first audience is ready! Here we go!
Slowly rolling...
Slowly rolling…
OH, NO!!! A child playing in the park nearby is heading out to join the dancers! Horrors!
OH, NO!!! A child playing in the park nearby is heading out to join the dancers! Horrors!
The young child is intercepted. I'm sorry, but this to me was the highlight of the performance!
The young child is intercepted. I’m sorry, but this to me was the highlight of the performance!
The dancers rise up as individuals, like living things emerging from primordial waters.
The dancers rise up as individuals, like living things emerging from primordial waters.
Some still lay flat on their backs, moving their feet as if coming to life. The dance was very organic, and very watery!
Some still lay flat on their backs, moving their feet as if coming to life. The dance was very organic, and very watery!
Rising up from the liquid into freedom and boundless space.
Rising up from the liquid into freedom and boundless space.
The free form dance was a very cool spectacle that everyone should enjoy.
The free form dance was a very cool spectacle that everyone should enjoy.
Now the dancers rise in unison, plunging forward, swirling, alive!
Now the dancers rise in unison, plunging forward, swirling, alive!
Dancers from San Diego Dance Theater provide wonderful entertainment on a sunny weekend day!
Dancers from San Diego Dance Theater provide wonderful entertainment on a sunny weekend day!
Clusters of dancers merge, writhe, change shape, like strange newborn beings experiencing life for the first time.
Clusters of dancers merge, writhe, change shape, like strange newborn beings experiencing life for the first time.
This artistic group seemed to be evolving, ascending into the world.
This artistic group seemed to be evolving, ascending into the world.
Flying skyward through the fountain!
Flying skyward through the fountain!
More beauty and mystery, as the dancers slowly spread south, away from the seated audience.
More beauty and mystery, as the dancers slowly spread south, away from the seated audience.
Another dynamic photo.
Another dynamic photo.
The dancers are now clearly moving away from the audience, pushing out into the broader world, over this bridge.
The dancers are now clearly moving away from the audience, pushing out into the broader world, over this bridge.
It is a shining, watery path that passes through many splashing fountains.
It is a shining, watery path that passes through many splashing fountains.
Moving outward, away, slowly, with poise.
Moving outward, away, slowly, with poise.
Beyond white curtains of water, away, into the unknown future...
Beyond white curtains of water, away, into the unknown future…
And the stunning performance is over. The dancers paused and bowed, as the mobile audience drew up beside them and applauded.
And the stunning performance is over. The dancers paused and bowed, as the mobile audience drew up beside them and applauded.

…

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Richard Schulte

Downtown San Diego has been my home for many years. My online activities reflect my love for writing, blogging, walking and photography.

7 thoughts on “Fun photos of Trolley Dances in water fountain!”

  4. Pingback: Cool photo memories from September 2015. – Cool San Diego Sights!

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