Sea Lion Pirouette at the Balboa Pier

The sea lion ambled into view as I leaned over the railing of the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, California. As this rather large sea mammal swam lazily in the blue green water, I captured her portrait in a moment of sea lion ballet. Was she performing for the excited audience on the pier above? Or did we see ballet through our anthropomorphizing gaze? Soon she dove between the pilings beneath us and disappeared from sight. The dance ended as suddenly as it had begun. ♨