Shamu
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Shamu is the name of SeaWorld's iconic orca (killer whale) show. Shamu performances are presented along with Baby Shamu and Grandbaby Shamu in 7-million-gallon pools at SeaWorld parks in Orlando, Florida, San Diego, California, and San Antonio, Texas. Orcas perform in Shamu Stadium, which seats 5,500. The Shamu show is the most popular show at SeaWorld, running 20 minutes and showing as many as six times a day. The highlight of the performance is the spectacular natural behaviors of orcas and the unique relationships that SeaWorld trainers have with these animals. According to the official SeaWorld website, people sitting in the first 14 rows "must be prepared to get soaked" by water that is chilled to 55° F (13° C).
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[edit] Shamu Shows
The show was recently changed at all three SeaWorld parks. The new show, dubbed "Believe", is more spiritual and involves an audience hand signal, an emotional soundtrack, and the giving of a gift to a chosen child to inspire. The new show involves multiple cameras placed around the stadium and clips of video mixed with live audience shots during the presentation and story. It also has more trainers than ever before. The name "Shamu" is actually a stage name shared by many adult orcas, male or female, at SeaWorld. The first Shamu, a female, was captured in Puget Sound in 1965 and died on August 23, 1971.
Shamu Shows throughout the years:
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1966 | Doctor Do Little |
| 1971 | Shamu Goes Hollywood |
| 1974 | Shamu for Mayor |
| 1975 | Shamu the Yankee Doodle Whale |
| 1977 | Shamu Goes to College |
| 1982 | Shamu, Take a Bow |
| 1984 | Shamu Celebration |
| 1986 | Shamu's House of Douse |
| 1987 | Shamu's Water Symphony |
| 1989 | Shamu 25th Anniversary |
| 1989 | Baby Shamu |
| 1992 | Shamu Visions |
| 1995 | Shamu World Focus |
| 1998 | The Shamu Adventure |
| 2006 | Believe |
Night shows performed during the summer:
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Shamu Rocks Texas | San Antonio |
| Shamu Rocks America | Orlando |
| Shamu House of Douse | San Deigo |
[edit] The history of Baby Shamu
The first Baby Shamu, born on September 26, 1985 and named Kalina, was the first-ever orca calf to thrive in captivity. (Ten orca calves had been born in captivity before 1985, but five were stillborn and the others all died within two months of their births.) The first Grandbaby Shamu, a male known as Keet, was born in February 1993 and the first Great Grandbaby Shamu, a female named Kalia, was born on December 21, 2004. The first ever calf to be born to captive-bred parents, a female named Halyn, was born on October 9, 2005. SeaWorld has trademarked the names Shamu, Namu, Ramu, and Kandu.
[edit] Believe
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"Believe" at San Diego and Orlando currently features a video of a young boy inspired by an orca who grows up to be the primary character of the show - a Shamu trainer. This male trainer then chooses a young audience member asking of his or her desired occupation and gives the child a carved Shamu necklace so that the child can "Believe." The show also features a female trainer who is inspired by her mother to "Believe" in herself and so she becomes a Shamu trainer. At the beginning of "Believe" members of the United States Armed Forces are recognized while they are applauded by the audience. The portion of the audience with ties to military is always high given the large Navy presence in San Diego. The sea lions Clyde and Seamore at SeaWorld San Diego poke fun at the new Believe show by parodying it and muttering "Believe it!" in an undertone everytime they say anything. The female trainers of Clyde and Seamore also poke fun at the Shamu trainers by saying that they had their teeth whitened and had "discreet cosmetic adjustments".
Sea World San Antonio has two versions of the Shamu show. This first, shown throughout the day is similar to the "Believe" shows of the other parks. The second, shown at the last performance of the day is called "Shamu Rocks Texas" and is more light-hearted in tone, beginning with a dance contest where audience members are shown in succession dancing on the megatron screen, and the winner (usually a small child, but sometimes a gregarious adult) receives a Shamu plush toy. The female trainers have more prominence in the show, feeding the orcas, swimming with them and riding on their backs. The only prominent male cast member is the emcee who, dressed in rodeo attire, announces the winner of the dance contest. The show ends with a video tribute to the State of Texas and to the United States Armed Forces, and female trainers riding the orcas from one end of the tank to the other waving American flags with fireworks displayed at either end of the pool. This patriotic theme was probably selected for the San Antonio park due to its proximity to three Air Force Bases and the fact that military personnel and their families make up a substantial part of that park's clientele.
[edit] See also
- Shamuism,
- Keiko (orca), the star of the 1993 movie Free Willy
- SeaWorld
[edit] External links
- Shamu.com – Shamu's official site
- SeaWorld - Shamu Show - Killerwhale Pictures of Shamu Show published under Creative Commons License
- Shamu Show at SeaWorld Orlando Florida Video of Shamu Show (18 minutes)
- Shamu pictures – a photo gallery from Shamu show
