*Gounouj* draws its inspiration from the site of Gros Morne/Grande-Anse (Deshaies, Guadeloupe), the very place where a 30-minute first version, "Gounouj in situ," for a trio of dancers, was created on December 15 and 16, 2022, as part of the "Mondes nouveaux" program initiated by the Ministry of Culture.
One of the defining characteristics of Gros Morne/Grande-Anse is its climactic stage, meaning it is an environment where fauna, flora, and atmospheric conditions are in perfect balance. However, maintaining this state is now threatened by human actions. The question of environmental preservation today evokes a complex emotional response, blending affliction, discouragement, frustration, and, at the same time, hope and a longing for something positive.
This alliance of seemingly contradictory feelings resonates with the concepts 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 that literally describes the state of a crustacean during its molting period. This process means its shell softens and weakens, allowing 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 concepts of *saudade* and *bousyè* create a "tension between opposites" that nourishes the piece *Gounouj*.
In *Gounouj*, the dancers express through their movements their passage through these polarizing states. Drawing strong inspiration from Guadeloupean culture, the 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*.
The stage version will focus on creating scenographic conditions that evoke the unique atmosphere of this inspiring site, its environment, and its specific sound qualities. The goal is less to bring the figurative elements of the site onto the stage, but rather to capture its essence and recreate its distinctive vibrations.
*Gounouj* means frog in Creole, in certain regions of Guadeloupe.
*Adelino Braz, "L'intraduisible en question: l’étude de la saudade," RiLUnE, 2006*
