Photo Gallery-Dolphin Show
In the middle of a harsh Russian winter, there’s been some warm tropical activity in the center of Chelyabinsk. In this college town, located in the southern Ural Mountain range, temperatures can drop to -30 Celsius and put a frown on almost everyone. But inside an inflatable tent at the end of Lenin street, you’ll find huge smiles on faces of all ages.
A pair of dolphins jumps high and amazes this crowd in Chelyabinsk, Russia.
The show lasts about 45 minutes and includes a surprise guest appearance from a small sea lion. He mostly shows off his balancing skills and walks hand-in-hand with the trainer. But the dolphins have a wide range of tricks up their fins.
In the front row of the tiny stadium, people hold a long plastic blanket in their laps. Shortly after the start of the show, their reaction times are tested as the dolphins jump and land with a huge splash near the edge of the tank. It sends a big wave into the audience and if your reflex to raise the plastic is short, you’ll be doused with some mild salt water.
The dolphins then swing into a dance routine. They sway around the indoor pool and do their best imitation of a couple’s slow dance. Pretty good job! They have a range of routines that they go through, almost all show off their accuracy, balance and power to leap high into the air. But a few different talents include singing and speaking. Well, it’s not exactly music to the ears, more like screeches and high-pitched glass shattering squawks, but their voice is very powerful and a real treat to hear.
This was the dancing part of the dolphins' routine.
After some more acts with tossing rubber balls into the audience, they relax a bit and paint on a sketchpad held by the trainer. He places a brush that’s already swabbed in paint and the dolphins take turns creating a colorful work of abstract art. The announcer of the show then starts and auction for the piece. This is one part of the show that I could have done without. It just seemed to drag on and I would have rather not paid for that time. More tricks, more flips please!
At the end of the show, for a small fee, people are allowed to pose with the dolphins for a snapshot. The onsite professional photographer offers print enlargements and/or CD’s. But he will also take a shot with your camera…well, he did for me at least.
Two dolphins put their trainer on a pedestal.
