My father-in-law's primary physician with the Veterans Administration Hospital is a visit that he actually looks forward to. She is a remarkable doctor and he speaks so highly of her. But she is more than a doctor she is also a dancer. She participated in a series of dance pieces at local trolley stops that was dubbed “Trolley Dances” instigated by Jean Isaacs of the San Diego Dance Theatre.
My father-in-law's primary physician with the Veterans Administration Hospital is a visit that he actually looks forward to. She is a remarkable doctor and he speaks so highly of her. But she is more than a doctor she is also a dancer. She participated in a series of dance pieces at local trolley stops that was dubbed “Trolley Dances” instigated by Jean Isaacs of the San Diego Dance Theatre.
I remember this, because during that time, I was taking the trolley to work and saw a few performances. Many people watched from the trolley, but in many cases I saw people get off the trolley just to watch. Taking a few minutes in a busy day to enjoy some art. It was refreshing to see and a brilliant idea in promoting the arts, especially in the underserved areas of the county.
Well, the San Diego Opera has noticed and is taking this trip on the tracks with its upcoming performance of “Cinderella.” Almost closing its doors a few years ago, The San Diego Opera is revamping its marketing ideas, taking performances to the people and in the process showing that the Opera is also close to the Blue Line as it has a stop by the Civic Theatre. But more important it is reaching out to a new demographic, trying to bring a diversity of new followers and introducing the young to an art that many have never seen before. This is just one of many ideas that the Opera has in store to bring more patrons into the theatre seats by giving them a taste of its upcoming performance. Again this is a brilliant outreach program that I hope that works as it is intended to do so. Myself am a lover of the opera from the older traditional styled classics to anything new and rejuvenating.
Now the difference between Opera on the Track and Trolley Dances is that the San Diego Opera is taking college-aged opera singers, in full costume, to perform 30-minute portions of its upcoming “Cinderella” performance. You will need to get off the trolley to see this since this is a full performance and the Opera has chosen some key locations based on diversity of community and age in hope to inspire a new generation of opera patrons and donors. In order for the opera to continue to survive as a relevant artistic venue, this is a necessary outreach.
These opera bits can be seen in four weekends in September and October at stations, parks, amphitheaters and other venues along the San Diego Trolley’s Green, Orange and Blue Lines, all which can take you to the heart of the San Diego.
I am extremely excited that they have chosen East County as one of its first performances and whether or not you ride the trolley or not, grab your family young and old and be at the Santee Trolley Square Amphitheatre on Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. and explore what opera has to offer in the community and as a culture in the artistic world. Especially bring the young ones. It only takes one performance to set a lifetime of artistic exploration, and the younger a child is exposed, the better.
It is not something that they will forget and it instills the love and importance of all forms of art at an early age. I believe it this is an essential role as a parent in exposing our children early in life to what the world of art has to offer.
For more information about Opera on the track visit sdopera.org/engage/opera-on-track.
