By Amy Moore

The News staff writer

NEDERLAND — In spite of Ike, the Concert Association of Southeast Texas is preparing to host the 30th anniversary tour of the Golden Dragon Acrobats.

“We booked ahead, so our schedule was all set up. The auditorium is not leaking and the troop is ready to perform,” Dovie Horton with CAST said.

Jo Ann Mueller, coordinator for CAST, said she booked the Chinese Acrobats on the heels of the Beijing Olympics, but was worried about the condition of the auditorium after Hurricane Ike.

“We were all caught up in the Olympics,” she said. “And then the storms came and we didn’t know if we were going to be able to do. We waited until the school opened to see what would happen.”

The Golden Dragon Acrobats will perform at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Nederland High School Performing Arts Center.

Mueller said it’s important for the community to have affordable and world renowned shows available to them.

“I hope this will be a bright spot for them,” she said of citizens still recovering from Ike.

The group of acrobats represent the time honored tradition that began more than twenty-five centuries ago. The Golden Dragons are recognized throughout the United States and abroad as the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company of today.

The ancient art of Chinese Acrobatics is an old and long running tradition that began in China well over two thousand years ago. Over its long and rich history it has developed as one of the most popular art forms among the Chinese people. While many historical records provide evidence for the development of Chinese acrobatics as far back as the Xia Dynasty (4,000 years ago), it is most commonly held that the art form did not become wildly popular until approximately 2,500 years ago when it began to capture the attention of the country's powerful emperors

Since these early times, acrobatics have evolved into many forms of performances including dance, opera, martial arts, and sports. However, the impact of Chinese acrobatics goes far beyond the boundaries of performance as it has served an important role in the cultural exchange between China and Western nations including the United States. The citizens of China continue to present their acrobatic art for the world today, as it portrays the hard working nature of their people and sets forth an example of the rich traditions of Chinese culture.

The Golden Dragon Acrobats are proud to represent the very best of this time-honored tradition. 2008 will mark the highlight of the Golden Dragons' touring career with their 30th anniversary United States tour.

All prepaid membership cards can be picked up at the door Sunday afternoon. New memberships and single performance tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.

Memberships for all 5 performances are $40 each. Single performance tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children.