A melancholic ode to a vanishing paradise
In the Creole language of Guadeloupe, ‘Gounouj’ means frog - an animal that lives in perfect balance with its environment. But what happens when that balance is disturbed? Choreographer Léo Lérus, born on the island of Guadeloupe which is highly threatened by climate change, draws inspiration from the fragile balance between nature and human influences. Together with four dancers, he translates the phenomenon of homeostasis - the continuous adaptation process to maintain balance - into powerful, fluid movements. In the process, they interweave the rhythmic energy of traditional Gwoka dance with contemporary techniques.
At the centre is the concept of bousyè - a Creole word that refers to a crustacean during its moulting season, a moment of vulnerability and transformation into a greater being. Lérus translates this to the human body: how do we embrace our vulnerability and draw the strength from it to change? Gounouj exudes a deep sense of saudade (nostalgia). Because of its location, the island of Guadeloupe faces the sharp effects of climate change - higher temperatures, more frequent droughts and floods, violent hurricanes and coastal erosion - making the archipelago more vulnerable. Therefore there’s a very strong fear that the landscapes and ecosystems we know today could very well disappear one day.
