Harvard students will have an opportunity to experience the Far East today as the Asian American Association (AAA) presents their annual Cultural Festival in Paine Hall.

From 2 to 4 p.m., spectators can watch an array of traditional Chinese dances such as the Lotus Dance, the Sword Dance, the Mongolian Dance and the Ribbon Dance during which a dancer nearly choked herself last year, organizers of the fete said.

Silchen Ng '89, an organizer of this festival said that he expects a larger turn-out this year than last when more than 300 students from colleges in the Boston area attended the cultural festival.

Ng and Veronica Wong '88, the current president of Harvard AAA, said that the program is not restricted to Asian-American students, but that non-Asian students have attended in the past and are welcome to attend today.

Besides the traditional dances, students will perform different demonstrations in the martial arts such as Kung Fu and Tai Kwon Do.

There will also be musical performances ranging from traditional to classic to modern. Andrew J. Joseph '89 will play a traditional Korean instrument and Sharon E. Chen '88 will play violin. Three freshmen will also perform in what organizers say will be an innovative trio.

Other Asian organizations that helped organize this event were Koreans of Harvard-Radcliffe, Chinese Students Association, Harvard Vietnamese Society, and the Harvard Phillips-Brooks Chinatown Society.

Unlike other cultural festivals which ethnic student groups sponsor, this one will not include traditional foods as refreshments are not allowed in Paine Hall.

However, AAA organizers remain positive about the success of tomorrow's event. "This tradition has always been successful." Ng said.