Picture a Sunday afternoon at Naper Settlement: a bansuri, a Balinese gamelan, and a Taiwanese plucked-string instrument filling the 13-acre campus while a dancer trained in opera, ballet and Indian classical forms moves through stories of migration and belonging.
That's what Mandala South Asian Performing Arts is bringing to 523 S. Webster St. on Sunday, Sept. 20.
The MacArthur Foundation-supported Chicago nonprofit's production, "Nature and Narratives," starts at 4 p.m. and features artists from India, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan. Tickets are $35 general admission and $50 for patron seating, available at mandalaarts.org.
The lineup includes Indian classical musician and vocalist Chethan Anant, master Balinese dancer and gamelan percussionist Pak Ngurah, South Asian percussionist Chamni Sripraram, and plucked-string multi-instrumentalist Tzu-Tsen Wu, whose style draws from her Taiwanese roots and spans world music, jazz and classical ensembles. Solo dancer Raji Venkat, a New England Conservatory graduate who recently joined Mandala as associate artistic director under founder Pranita Nayar, rounds out the cast.
Mandala describes the show as an exploration of nature, memory, migration and belonging through rare traditional instruments, movement and storytelling, according to a Dance Informa preview published July 29.
Also on display Sept. 20: a visual art piece by Mandala media and communications manager Marvin Veloso titled "Tapestries Toward the Future." The work is scheduled to travel to the Naper Boulevard Library from March to May 2027.
Sept. 3: KidsMatter's 23rd volunteer fair
Naperville families looking to volunteer have a free, no-registration-required option on Thursday, Sept. 3. KidsMatter's 23rd annual volunteer fair runs 5 to 7 p.m. at Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive.
More than 25 local nonprofits will set up booths covering education, environmental sustainability, disability services, food and nutrition, health, history, housing, literacy, senior services and youth support. The fair is open to children, families, adults and seniors, according to the Chicago Tribune's Naperville digest. Details are at kidsmatter2us.org/volunteerfair.
This week in Naperville
Friday, Aug. 14 — Naper Nights finale, night one. Dan Peters Band at 6 p.m., JUMP – America's Van Halen Experience at 8 p.m. Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St. Tickets $25 adult, $15 youth (ages 4–12); members and kids under 4 free. Gates open at 5 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 15 — Naper Nights finale, night two. Sparks Fly (Taylor Swift tribute) at 6 p.m., Made in America (Toby Keith tribute) featuring Toby Keith's longtime guitarist Rich Eckhardt at 8 p.m. Same venue, same pricing. "Having Rich Eckhardt standing beside us makes this much more than a traditional tribute concert," Made in America founder Paul Wenzel said in an Aug. 11 Positively Naperville feature. Gates open at 5 p.m. both nights.
