The Golden Dragon Acrobats will perform in Lake Charles at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, in the Rosa Hart Theatre of the Lake Charles Civic Center. The performance is sponsored by the city of Lake Charles in partnership with McNeese State University.

Tickets are available at the Lake Charles Civic Center (337-491-1432) and through Ticketmaster (337-474-4900). Prices are $26 for Rows 1-10, $15 for all other orchestra seats and $10 for balcony seats plus fees. Tickets for children under 12 will be $5 less in each category.

The company comes from the central Chinese city of Xian in the People's Republic of China. The company itself has been in existence for 29 years, and this particular group debuted on Broadway in 2005 and has performed in all 50 states and in more than 65 countries. The Golden Dragons are the only Chinese acrobatic company touring year-round in the United States.

The feats to be showcased during the performance represent the best of a tradition that began more than 25 centuries ago. Men will climb tall poles and jump between them to the sound of drums. A woman in a shining gray python-colored body stocking will balance a lamp as she twists upside down on a pedestal, her body bending like cooling taffy so that it is hard to see where her limbs begin and end. Paper umbrellas will twirl effortlessly, held by a pair of upturned, kneading feet; plates will spin three at a time atop long, slender sticks; and a man will juggle balls at the top of a three-man pyramid.

And of course, a colorful lion will roll and jump, exhibiting its attributes of strength, agility and tranquility. This act comes from a Chinese folk dance developed from Buddhist beliefs and creates a jubilant and festive atmosphere. The lion represents the spirit of renewal and is revered for dispelling bad luck.

The 25 members of the Golden Dragons Acrobats are jugglers, contortionists and prize-winning acrobats, all of whom have studied and trained for their craft since early childhood. The company¹s founder, producer and director, Danny Chang, is one of the world¹s leading promoters of Chinese acrobatics. His personal training began at the age of 8 and he first started touring with the Golden Dragon Acrobats at age 10. He is the recipient of many awards, including the esteemed Medal for International Faith and Goodwill from the Republic of China's Coordination Council for North American Affairs.

The Golden Dragons will also present a free performance for K-12 students at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 5 in Rosa Hart Theatre thanks to funding support from the city of Lake Charles. For information about how to register a school or a class for this performance, call McNeese at 337-475-5123 or e-mail ladonna@mcneese.edu.

A study guide for the performance is available on the Web site www.goldendragonsacrobats.com and click on Study Guide.