GOUNOUJ

SYNOPSIS

« Gounouj » means « frog » in the Creole language of some regions of Guadeloupe, Léo Lérus’s native island. In this lush land, particularly hit by the harmful effects of human activity, Léo Lérus and his dancers have watched and translated in their bodies the phenomenon of homeostasis, which is the adaptation of a system to external contingencies in order to maintain its equilibrium.

DISTRIBUTION

Choreography : Léo Lérus in collaboration with the dancers

Dancers : Arnaud Bacharach, Robert Cornejo, Johana Maledon, Andréa Moufounda

Assistant : Asha Thomas

Musical concept : Léo Lérus

Musical composition and interactive sound design : Denis Guivarc'h, Gilbert Nouno, Arnaud Bacharach

Recorded percussionist : Arnaud Dolmen

Voice sample : Napoléon Magloire

Lighting design and technical manager : Chloé Bouju

Costumes : Bénédicte Blaison

Production : Zimarèl / Léo Lérus

Touring Agent : La Magnanerie

COPRODUCTION & PARTNERS

VIADANSE - Centre Chorégraphique National of Bourgogne Franche-Comté in Belfort / La Filature, Scène Nationale of Mulhouse / CCN - Opéra national du Rhin Ballet / POLE-SUD Strasbourg / CNDC Angers / L'Artchipel Scène Nationale of Guadeloupe / TROIS-CL Luxembourg /

Dispositif Récif - Karukera Ballet / French Ministry of Culture’s program “Mondes Nouveaux”  / With the collaboration of Moka Production

Zimarèl / Léo Lérus is supported by the Department of Cultural Affaires of Guadeloupe, and by the Regional and Departmental Council of Guadeloupe.

Léo Lérus is an associate artist of VIADANSE - Centre Chorégraphique National of Bourgogne Franche-Comté in Belfort.

This project has been submitted for support to the Fund for artistic and cultural exchanges (FEAC) and ADAMI

CALENDAR

  • 8–9/03/2024 : Premiere, La Filature – Scène Nationale de Mulhouse – FR

  • 13–16/03/2024 : Chaillot – Théâtre National de la Danse, Paris – FR

  • 21/03/2024 : CNDC, Angers – FR

  • 16–17/04/2024 : PÔLE-SUD, Strasbourg – FR

  • 10/05/2024 : L’Artchipel – Scène Nationale de Guadeloupe – GP

  • 28/06/2024 : Fuori Programma, Rome (in situ version) – IT

  • 26–27/09/2024 : CCNT, Tours – FR

  • 08/03/2025 : L’Octogone Theatre, Pully – CH

  • 13/05/2025 : Aubusson – Scène Nationale, Théâtre Jean Lurçat – FR

  • 15/05/2025 : Malakoff – Scène Nationale, Paris region – FR

  • 18/05/2025 : Théâtre de Sartrouville, Paris region – FR

  • 13/11/2025 : Bienal Internacional de Danza de Cali – CO

  • 23/11/2025 : NEXT Festival, Centre Culturel d’Ypres – BE

  • 28–29/11/2025 : Les Halles de Schaerbeek, Brussels – BE

  • 10–11/12/2025 : Le ZEF – Scène Nationale de Marseille – FR

  • 09/01/2026 : Le Cargo, Segré-en-Anjou Bleu – FR

  • 03/02/2026 : Théâtre Le Rive Gauche, Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray – FR

  • 07–08/02/2026 : Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, Paris (in situ version), Carte Blanche to Héla Fattoumi and Éric Lamoureux – FR

  • 10–11/02/2026 : Théâtre de Cornouaille – Scène Nationale de Quimper – FR

  • 13/02/2026 : La Passerelle – Scène Nationale de Saint-Brieuc – FR

  • 02/05/2026 : Biennale de la danse en Afrique, Toubab Dialaw – SN

Photo by Laurent Philippe