Moon Festival: Pan-Asian Dance Concert Celebrates Women, Motherhood & Families

Moon Festival, a mid-October holiday celebrated in nearly every Asian nation, comes to White Eagle Hall in Jersey City. On October 14th Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) presents the Moon Festival, multicultural, interactive dance performance for the whole family.

Moon Festival - a culturally-rich Asian American dance concert that celebrates diversity, family, women and motherhood - is a collaboration between the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company (www.nainichen.org) and Akhilandeshwari Vasudevamurthy (Akhila).

The two dance companies will perform then invite the audience to join in this ancient celebration as they invoke the power of the moon through ritualistic dance and trance-inducing rhythms. In keeping with Asian tradition, Moon Cake, a traditional Chinese delicacy where legend has it was first baked by resistance fighters during an uprising in China more than 1000 years ago - and authentic Indian Pudding - will be served.

"Both Nai-Ni and Akhila are incredible choreographers," said Olga Levina, Artistic Director, JCTC. "Moon Festival is a celebration of women, motherhood and family that was found in ancient cultures. How these talented, International Artists blend the history of their own cultures with modern dance truly represents the power of women across Asian cultures. Moon Festival is an enriching performance for the entire family."

This unique and engaging dance concert features two distinct Asian celebrations of the autumnal moon. Nai-Ni Chen, a world renowned Choreographer & Dancer with deep roots in the Asian culture, will present dance pieces in keeping with the original Moon Festival - a traditional family holiday in China, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. Akhila and her husband Chetan Hebbar will present traditional dance pieces choreographed in the original Bharthanatyam style that honor Karva Chauth, a one-day festival still celebrated in Northern India where Hindu villages publically celebrate friendship between women and feminine solidarity.

"We are very excited to be able to bring Moon Festival to White Eagle Hall," said Chen. "This is a historic performance where we - as Asian American women artists - are working together to celebrate our collaboration and achievement over the harvest moon. Moon Festival resonates with cultures all over the world, but also has a long history of women's empowerment and solidarity in Asia. Please bring your family and join us for this celebration."

Photo Caption: Akhilandeshwari Vasudevamurthy (left) and Nai-Ni Chen bring Moon Festival - a dance concert honoring the Pan-Asian Autumanal Lunar Holiday to White Eagle Hall in Jersey City Oct.14)