See beauty of Chinese culture at festival

Most words you'll hear spoken and sung Saturday at the Golden Fall Moon Festival will be in Chinese, but organizers say you don't have to speak the language to enjoy the show.

The stage celebration -- featuring Chinese vocal performance, dance and drama -- will dazzle audiences with its talent and beauty, regardless of the language they speak, said Li Zhang, founder and president of the Dong Fang Chinese Performing Arts Association, which stages the event.

More than 120 entertainers, several of whom have achieved prominence on stage in China, will perform in the Golden Fall Moon Festival Saturday at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall.

To help ease the language barrier, the show will feature three emcees, one of whom is a native-English speaker. Also, Zhang said, the program will be printed in both English and Chinese.

"This year is a combination show," said Zhang, adding that the festival is an authentic Chinese-style variety show.

The program will include the Dong Fang Chorus, as well as smaller vocal ensembles, soloists, traditional Chinese folk dance, comedy and a sample of Beijing Opera.

The Naperville-based, nonprofit association aims to give the local community opportunities to learn about and participate in Chinese culture and performing arts. Members come from all over the Chicago area, Zhang said.

"This is a relatively young organization with only a two-year history, but we are doing very well," said Zhang, adding that, for the second year, the group was given a cultural grant from Naperville to help fund the fall festival.

"We got support from the city," Zhang said. "They're so happy to see such an organization."

The local business community has also been generous with corporate sponsorships, Zhang said.

Dong Fang presents two major shows each year, one in the fall and the other in the spring, with several smaller shows offered in between.

This Golden Fall Moon Festival, a major fundraiser for the arts association, will feature more than 120 on-stage performers supported by a crew of more than 50, Zhang said.

If you go

What: Golden Fall Moon Festival, organized by Dong Fang Chinese Performing Arts Association

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville

Tickets: $15, $20 and $25

Info: (630) 965-9265 or dongfangarts.org