*Gounouj In Situ* draws its inspiration from the site of Gros Morne / Grande-Anse (Deshaies, Guadeloupe), the very place where the piece was presented. One of the distinctive features of this site is that it is in a climactic state, meaning it is an environment where fauna, flora, and atmospheric conditions are in perfect balance. However, the preservation of this state is now threatened by human actions. The issue of environmental preservation now evokes a complex emotional response, blending affliction, discouragement, frustration, and at the same time, hope and a longing for something positive. This combination of seemingly contradictory feelings resonates with the notions of *saudade* and *bousyè*.
*Saudade* [sodadʒi] is a Portuguese word with no direct equivalent in French. It defines a complex emotional state between nostalgia, gentle sadness, and hope, in relation to the passage of time.
*Bousyè* [bu:sjɛ] is a Creole word describing the state of a crustacean during its molting period. This process means that its shell softens and weakens to allow the creation of a larger, new shell. Figuratively, it refers to a person’s acceptance of their vulnerability, being sensitive to allow for their inevitable but necessary development.
These two notions of *saudade* and *bousyè* create a "tension between opposites" that nourishes the piece *Gounouj*. The dancers express through their movements their experience of these polarizing states. Drawing strong inspiration from Guadeloupean culture, the trio of performers play with the notions of balance and imbalance present in *gwoka* dance, as well as in the complex, subtle relationship between the *dansè* and *makè* of the *Léwoz*.
At the heart of this creation, particularly its sound and musical research, lies the "symphony" of frogs, which occurs in a distinctive way at dusk, the boundary between the day and night. *Gounouj* means frog in Creole, in certain regions of Guadeloupe.
