There’s no shortage of sea slang when working on the water…but “ballerina” has to be specific only to Victoria.

But that’s what a handful of our local harbour ferry skippers call themselves — and take no teasing. The operators take much pride in the nickname, because the morning boat ballet they perform is an absolute joy to witness.

Photo credit: Tourism Victoria

The Water Ballet tradition of boats busting out moves doesn’t happen every day, but when it does, crowds pack the Inner Harbour, scrambling for the best video capture.

When it occurs, the water taxis, which normally haul people back-and-forth all day, take a ballet break to twirl and dance in perfectly choreographed performances. It’s a surprisingly smooth sequence for a bunch of weathered working boats.

When Victoria introduced harbour ferries to its waters in 1990, the skippers who operated them quickly found boats extremely maneuverable. Inspired by the infamous RCMP Musical Ride, they designed their own dance. 

These skippers push their little ferries to the limit too. And it’s not an uncommon site to see a group of salty sea dogs working out dance moves in the parking lot beforehand.

The Water Ballet takes place at 10:45 am on certain days, and really ramps up the frequency in these summer holiday months. You can find the full schedule through the Harbour Ferry site.

The Water Ballet runs until October, but If you can't catch the free show, we'll give you a sneak peek.