Infinite Repertoire: On Dance and Urban Possibility in Postsocialist Guinea

In Conakry, dance is a prominent feature of city life, with most neighborhoods boasting at least one dance troupe. Adrienne Cohen's book, "Infinite Repertoire," explores how dance became an important part of city life in Guinea under the socialist state, which was in power from 1958 to 1984. The state used staged African dance or "ballet" as a political tool to tap into indigenous conceptualizations of artisans as powerful figures capable of transforming the social fabric. Despite the socialist revolution, Guinean ballet continued to thrive in Conakry after economic liberalization in the 1980s, with its connection to transformative power retrofitted for a market economy and a rapidly expanding city. Cohen's book follows young dancers and percussionists in Conakry as they invest in the present, using their bodies to build a creative urban environment and perform and redefine social norms and political subjectivities passed down from the socialist generation.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 216 pages
\n Publication date: 12 August 2021
\n Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
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Dance permeates every corner of the vibrant capital city of Conakry in Guinea. Nearly every neighborhood boasts at least one dance troupe, whose members play a crucial role in animating the city's major rites of passage and social events. In her captivating book, Infinite Repertoire, Adrienne Cohen delves into the remarkable story of how dance has emerged as a prominent and integral aspect of urban life in Guinea. What makes this narrative even more surprising is the fact that Guinea is known for its authoritarian political regime, characterized by repressive measures and violent excesses.

Despite this backdrop, Cohen reveals how dance has flourished under the socialist state, which ruled from 1958 to 1984. The socialist government strategically employed staged African dance, often referred to as "ballet," as a political tool. By tapping into indigenous conceptualizations of artisans as powerful figures capable of transforming the social fabric through their manipulation of vital energy, the government sought to harness the power of dance for its own purposes.

Interestingly, the Guinean ballet did not wither away with the socialist revolution. Instead, it continued to thrive in Conakry after economic liberalization in the 1980s. The connection between dance and transformative power was reimagined for a market economy and a rapidly expanding city. Young dancers and percussionists in Conakry, inspired by the legacy of the socialist generation, embraced dance as a means to build a creative urban environment and challenge social norms and political subjectivities.

Cohen's innovative ethnography seamlessly weaves together the political and the aesthetic, placing dance at the center of a captivating story about dramatic political change and youthful resourcefulness. Through her detailed observations and interviews, she sheds light on the lives of young dancers and percussionists as they invest their time, energy, and passion into the art form. Infinite Repertoire offers a fresh perspective on one of the least-studied cities on the African continent, highlighting the resilience and creativity of its people in the face of adversity.

In conclusion, Infinite Repertoire is a must-read for anyone interested in dance, politics, and the African continent. Cohen's insightful analysis provides a deep understanding of how dance has become an essential part of urban life in Guinea, despite the challenges posed by political authoritarianism. The book offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the power of art and creativity to shape society and drive positive change.

\n Weight: 312g\n
Dimension: 154 x 228 x 15 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780226781020\n \n