Susan Gitman's blog

Saturday, April 18, 2009 the St. George Library on Staten Island joined in the 6th annual Immigrant Heritage Week Celebration (April 17- 23), featuring tap and African dance to African drumming and percussion. The duo of Irene Koloseus and Andy Algire entertained, educated and engaged a lively audience of adults and children about the art of American tap dance and traditional West African music.

Irene Koloseus and Andy Algire played the Balafon, a xylophone type of instrument closely associated with Guinea and with Senegal and The Gambia. Ms. Koloseus challenged Mr. Algire in a competition to follow the beat of her tap dance steps by him playing the Balafon. The audience enthusiastically clapped to the beat of tap and Balafon.  read more »

From Friday, April 17th to Thursday, April 23rd, 2009, New York City will celebrate Immigrant Heritage Week. Declared an official, annual celebration by Mayor Bloomberg, Immigrant Heritage Week is a unique celebration of the vibrant immigrant cultures, history, and communities found in every corner of the City.

In the past years, the celebration began on Monday but this year it starts on Friday, April 17th. Why April 17, you might ask?

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