UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 13, Page 5                       
December 3, 1992                                       
Royal visit another first at the Bob Carpenter Center  
                                                       
     Since the opening of the University's Bob Carpenter Center Oct.
24, the Acierno Arena has racked up a series of firsts-hosting an icon
of comedy, a legend of rock, a duo of country stars, a quartet of 
rappers and a quintet of maniacs.                            
     On Nov. 24, the indoor arena welcomed its first royal performers,
"The World Famous" Royal Lipizzaner Stallions.               
     Long ticket lines outside the building caused the performance to
be delayed for nearly 20 minutes, but members of the audience in the
nearly sold-out house seemed to think it was well worth the wait. 
     Performing to ever-changing tempos of classical music, the large
white horses, which have been touring the U.S. and Canada for 23
years, demonstrated both delicate movements and feats of strength that
amazed the appreciative crowd.                               
     At the beginning of the evening, tuxedo-clad Troy Tinker, the
road tour narrator, asked those who had previously seen the  
Lippizzaners perform to respond with a round of applause. More than
half the center's audience clapped. No doubt, the equine troupe picked
up more disciples during the evening's two-hour show.        
     Tinker served as both host and educator as he explained how the 
splendid white breed with a 400-year-old lineage had been rescued by
the U.S. Army at the end of World War II. In the early part of the
program, a single rider demonstrated the basic elements of dressage,
which has been used for centuries and now continues in formal
equestrian competition.                                      
     Later, in groups of two, three, four and six, regally clad
riders-wearing European-style uniforms featuring gold epaulets and
trim-combined the movements to music. To watch 24 delicate hoofs, 
dancing in precision to Viennese music was quite a memorable 
experience.                                                  
     Comic relief was offered by a Swedish couple, the Swendsens, who
performed amazing routines in both comic and acrobatic settings. To
many, their act seemed hard enough to accomplish on the ground. But,
it was even more dangerous as the male rider stood-with one foot on
the back of each of two white horses as they constantly circled the
arena-lifting his wife above his head and spinning her under his legs
between the horses.                                          
     The climax of the program was the presentation of four 
traditional military movements. Known as the "Airs Above the Ground,"
these intricate leaps-which, in some cases, have the animal's four
hooves off the ground at the same time-were used in battle to protect
the rider and disable attackers. Today, the presentation shows the
strength and endurance of the stallions, but, simultaneously, the 
delicate artistry and intelligence of the lovely white animals.
     The presence of a large number of young students of elementary
school age was a satisfying difference from earlier center audiences.
Obviously, there is a market in the Newark area for family-oriented
entertainment. In fact, more than once the comment, "I hope they have
more things like this for the kids," was heard as satisfied families
left the center.                                             
                                        -Ed Okonowicz