Albany High School performers will take part in a dance recital this Thursday that celebrates the life of an 18th-century, world-renowned composer through classical ballet, African-Carribean dance and modern dance.
“Liberté: The Chevalier from Paris to the Carribean” celebrates the journey of Joseph Boulogne, the Chevalier de Saint-George. The performance will be held at Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST) at 6:30 p.m.
Dance teacher Omonike Akinyemi is choreographing and directing the performance. Senior Josh Diaz will play the role of Saint-George.
Additional performers include students from Just Dance! classes, the Cinema-Dance-Musical-Theater Club, Select Choir, World Drumming class and Media Arts class. Also, fourth and fifth grade students from the South End Children’s Café will perform.
Saint-George was known as “The Black Mozart.” Born in the French colony of Guadeloupe, he was the son of a wealthy planter and his wife’s African slave. Saint-George gained fame as a virtuoso violinist, classical composer and conductor of the leading symphony orchestra in Paris. He also was a champion fencer and colonel of the black legion, and he was an early supporter of racial equality in France and England.
TOAST is located in Lincoln Park, off Delaware Avenue.