Dancing Lipizzaner Stallions coming to Utah

These white stallions have a history and legacy spanning more than 2,000 years, involving numerous countries, historic political figures and even a Disney film. The Lipizzaner Stallions have also toured for 40 years and are now returning to Utah.

Friday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m., the Lipizzaner Stallions will perform for one night at the E Center.

Performances in Orem and Richfield are Wednesday and Thursday.

Gary Lashinsky, tour producer and founder, said the tour itself also has a long history and an established reputation. He said that this show is the longest-running family show right behind the Barnum and Bailey Circus and the Harlem Globetrotters. But that doesn't mean it's the same show, repeated year after year.

"We change it up every two to three years, but we maintain the tradition that people anticipate," Lashinsky said. "There's new choreography, new horses, new music, new wardrobes, but we still maintain the tradition that people have seen in previous years and that's what they like."

Lipizzaner Stallions are a rare breed of horses that most likely originated in Carthage more than 2,000 years ago. They bear their strongest associations with Spain and Austria, where they long thrived. They were faced with near-extinction in World War II, but were saved by Gen. George Patton and his men. Later, Disney made a film about them titled: "The Miracle of the White Stallions."

"People love these horses and appreciate the opportunity to see something they'd never be able to see," Lashinsky said. "And it is an opportunity because they're so rare. There are only 3,000 (Lipizzaner horses) in the whole world."

Some of the largest groups of Lipizzaners are found with either the Spanish Riding School of Vienna or touring with Lashinsky's show. He said that while both groups feature the horses, they do so in distinctive ways.

"It's very different," he said. "We style and emulate the Spanish Riding School of Vienna and the difference is that they are mostly demonstration horses and we are a theatrical entertainment show. We open up a bigger audience than just the equestrian audience. We get a big family audience — the reason for our success for over 40 years."

Though Lashinsky said many people see the show multiple times, they always include a narration on the horses' history and a demonstration of their unique skills in the program.

"It's important for people to understand what the horses are doing and what they're seeing," he said. "It's just great entertainment with beautiful white stallions. Instead of dancing with stars, with the stars on two legs, we've got dancing with the stars with our stars on four legs."

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