Breathtaking skill and spellbinding beauty will take center stage Sept.18 at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts when the Golden Dragon Acrobats perform at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the Golden Dragon Acrobats performance are available online, at the Lied Center Box Office, 301 N. 12th St., or by phone at 402-472-4747. Tickets start at $24 for adults. Tickets to all Lied Center presented events are available to students for 50 percent off. Tickets for the Golden Dragons Acrobats performance are also available to UNL faculty and staff at a 25 percent discount by using the discount code “CHINA.”

The performance marks the first event of the UNL Confucius Institute’s campuswide Chinese Culture Festival, which runs through Oct. 6. The Festival celebrates the food, language, art and culture of China. For more information, go to http://confuciusinstitute.unl.edu.

“The Golden Dragon Acrobats are recognized throughout the United States and abroad as the premier Chinese acrobatic touring company of today,” said Bill Stephan, executive director of the Lied Center. “Patrons can expect to see and hear top notch acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes, and ancient and contemporary music. The Lied Center is proud to partner with our friends at the Confucius Institute for this amazing display of Chinese artistry and culture.”

The ancient art of Chinese acrobatics began well more than 2,000 years ago. Over its long history, acrobatics has developed into one of the most popular art forms among the Chinese people. While many historic records provide evidence of the development of Chinese acrobatics as far back as the Xia Dynasty (4,000 years ago), it is most commonly believed that the art form did not become widely popular until approximately 2,500 years ago, when it began to capture the attention of the country’s emperors.

The company has performed in all 50 states, including repeated performances in all of the lower 48 states. On average, the Golden Dragon Acrobats present more than 200 performances each year at 100 to 200 venues across the United States. When they’re not performing on stage, the company spends a significant amount of time participating in community and youth outreach programs, educating children and adults about the rich artistic history of acrobatics and their role in Chinese culture.