Elegant equines return

Published 12:01 am Friday, May 27, 2011

The magnificent and marvelous great white horses known as the Lipizzaner Stallions return to Comcast Arena this weekend with their gravity-defying leaps and hops, their immaculate manes and tails, and their showy dance moves.

Yes, that’s right. These impressive creatures — a mere 3,000 left

in the world — once bred for the battlefield today tour the world as dancers, trained in the fashion of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna.

“They are absolutely magnificent to watch and they actually do understand rhythm and beat and cadence and anticipate what the next step is going to be,” tour creator and producer Gary Lashinsky said.

Lashinsky, who has worked with horses for 40 years, called these stallions phenomenal in their ability to pick up and do what they are asked.

“It’s wonderful to watch them dance because it’s like a ballet with four-footed dancers,” Lashinsky said.

And dancing is just part of the show.

There’s also a segment of the program called the “Airs Above the Ground,” during which these huge creatures perform leaps and tough maneuvers that involve keeping two hind hooves on the ground while kicking the front legs. These were moves once used by the riders in battle to protect and defend themselves and today are used to dazzle audiences.

“They have a particular gate and bounce where they want to be above the ground,” said Lashinsky, speaking from his Florida home. “They are very animated in their show.”

Lashinsky, who said the Lipizzaners are celebrating the 41st anniversary of their “Dancing White Stallions” show, said there will be lots of new things for frequent visitors to this touring show, including new music and new choreography and routines, along with some new horses.

One stallion, Elvis, is “absolutely gorgeous” and enjoys Big Band music, Lashinsky said.

Lashinsky said Elvis recently performed in Bahrain where King Khalifa was so impressed that he saluted the horse and got down into the arena and wanted to dance with Elvis.

How do you stop a king from dancing with your horse?

“You don’t,” Lashinsky said. “The king does whatever he wants.”

Another horse new to the show is called Baby, who loves to do the leap in the air while kicking out with his hind legs, otherwise known as the Capriole.

There are generally 12 to 14 horses traveling with the show and all are stallions between 1,100 and 1,200 pounds.

Part of the newness of this show will include an increased emphasis on the historical background of these steeds with narration on both what is happening on stage and also taking the newcomer through the history of the Lipizzaner, from its origins as a horse of war, to a breed rescued by Gen. George Patton in Word War II.

The Walt Disney movie “The Miracle of the White Stallions,” chronicles that rescue.

“You don’t have to be a horse lover,” Lashinsky said. “Right away from the first part of the show there is narration so you know what they are doing and what the significance is of what they are doing.

“If you’ve never seen the show, you will never see a horse as beautiful or magnificent. They really are the world’s greatest exhibition horse.”

Lipizzaner Stallions perform at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Comcast Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett. Tickets are $23.50 and $29.50.

For children 12 and under and seniors 60 and over, tickets are half price at $12.75 and $15.75.

Tickets are available at the Comcast box office, by phone at 866-332-8499 and online at ComcastArenaEverett.com. For group tickets, call 425-322-2609.

For more information go to www.lipizzaner.com.

Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.