San Francisco Sightseeing Articles

Combine urban landscapes, live dance artists and dedicated performance " Tour guides," and you get Trolley Dances, a series of outdoor site specific works to which the audience is escorted aboard a transit car. Far from any double-decker sightseeing bus or Duck Tour, Trolley Dances offer a sensory ride through the dance community with a celebratory spirit.

The concept of Trolley Dances was born in San Diego by Jean Isaacs, Artistic Director of the San Diego Dance Theater, to honor the bi-cultural nature of a city on the border. This year, during the last weekend in September and the first weekend in October, the 11th Annual San Diego Trolley Dances took place at sites along the Trolley line south of downtown San Diego to the San Ysidro border crossing between California and Tijuana.

Inspired by Isaac's Trolley Dances, Bay Area choreographer Kim Epifano brought the tradition to northern California six years ago, showcasing San Francisco's diverse dance community.

This weekend, audiences can climb aboard the J-Church Muni Metro at Mission Dolores Park to experience San Francisco Trolley Dances, winding through many parts of the city. For a $2 fare, riders will be escorted to performances by Deborah Slater Dance Theater, Deep Waters Dance Theater, SF Merionettes Sychronized Swim Club, Epiphany Productions Sonic Dance Theater, Kathleen Hermesdorf, and Rosamaria Garcia and Jorge Rodolfo De Hoyos. Tours begin at the statue of Miguel Hidalgo in the middle of Mission Dolores Park starting at 11:00am, and leave every 45 minutes until 2:45pm. San Francisco's Trolley Dances will be performed Oct. 17 and 18.