San Diego's Top Weekend Events: 'Homegrown' Dances And San Diego Songs

This is KPBS Midday Edition. I'm Maureen Cavanaugh. There's a little bit of everything on the agenda for this week's weekend preview. Ballet about Chula Vista, a reunion for sad love songs, a new exhibit of art in the season opening concert. Joining me as Nina Garin. So did I say that correctly a ballet about Chula Vista? What can you tell us about that questionThere's a ballet about Mission Beach and Spring Valley. This is part of a homegrown, which is a program that the San Diego ballet put together. It has a local connection that goes beyond those neighborhoods.There are several layers to this. Tell us more.So in the 1970s the radio station had a contest inviting people to write songs about their neighborhoods in the top 12 were put on the album. Artistic director of San Diego ballet grew up listening to these albums and loving them and he decided to create a ballet around them.I think we should listen to a song. This is Chula Vista by Rose and the arrangement.[ Music ]I'm never going to get that out of my head. [ Laughter ] how does one create dance to this questionIf anyone can do it is heavier. He makes dances that are based in ballet and contemporary but they have personality and very accessible. He works a lot with jazz so he's used to being able to play around with different forms.There's another dance on this?Yes. His name is Matt Carney he's a choreographer and dancer. He's doing my blue heaven and other songs from grandmas player piano. Is going to be great.San Diego bellies homegrown happens this weekend and next at the white box theater in liberty Station. We go from local music of the 1970s to more contemporary local music. The black car procession is back together and performing two shows this weekend.Black car procession is musicians in the music that they play is very dark and moody and it's an easy. But it had a very big following when they came out in the late 90s.Before you tell us more about black car procession, let's hear a little bit. This is square heart. [ Music ] they are celebrating an anniversary questionYes, to 20th anniversary of the debut album. They are re-releasing it with two new songs and they did play last year in San Diego but this is their first U.S. tour in six years.What kind of role did they have on the San Diego music scene?These two musicians were involved in a lot of bands. Paul is from three-mile pilot and he is brought kind of an experimental side to San Diego music and that is kind of the foundation of the San Diego sound that has emerged.The black car procession place tonight and tomorrow. Now we go from music to the San Diego history center which has a new exhibition.Is called legacy in black and it features the art of African-American artists who are from San Diego or have a stick advocate relationship here.What does that mean?They will be able to see a popular one is Ernie Barnes. He was a former charger and a painter. His art was seen on the credits to the TV show good times and it was adapted by Marvin Gaye for the cover of I want you. Then you will see pieces by a sculpture and farmer UCSD professor who did paintings of civil rights movement from a female perspective.It opens this weekend at the San Diego history center and will be on display through April 2018.We finish with a trip with the La Jolla Symphony.This is their season opening concert and it celebrates 50 years of collaboration with UC San Diego. What you will hear is Rhapsody in blue and the quiet city and new arrangement of Duke Ellington's mood on the go and solitude.Let's listen to a clip. [ Music ] they perform Saturday and Sunday at UC San Diego is Mandeville Auditorium. I've been speaking with Nina Garin. Thank you.Thank you. Have a great weekend.