Photo : Louise-Marie Hérard
Choreographic performance by the Obaluaé Company
This performance is a reverie. It reveals the care, the relationships, and the imagination developed through the act of reading or being told a story.
Bibliothèque Aimé Césaire (Paris 14th)
About
They affirm that every gesture is a reversal*
*Monique Wittig
A dance performance exploring the construction of the body through the imaginary world of reading. The dancers use piles of books as support to lift themselves off the ground. Each careful movement allows the story to continue its narration, revealing how reading provides the foundation to grow and find one's verticality.
Obaluaé Company
Conception: Susy Chetteau
Created and performed by Susy Chetteau, Annaëlle Toussaere
Music: The Dog with 1000 faces, Nils Frahm
Teaser musical creation: Stefan Kerr Pinheiro
Video and editing: Gaël.le Astier-Perret
Photography: Louise-Marie Hérard
Our take on this event
Books become the architecture of human movement in this striking dance performance where shelves of paper serve as stages. These performers climb their way toward new perspectives, transforming the act of reading into a physical quest for growth. Experience a brilliant meditation on how words can lift us off the ground.
On Tuesday, December 8, 2026, the Bibliothèque Aimé Césaire hosts a unique choreographic performance by the Compagnie Obaluaé. From 18:00 to 19:00, dancers Susy Chetteau and Annaëlle Toussaere explore how the imagination of reading shapes the physical body. By utilizing stacks of books as foundations, the performers rise from the floor, illustrating how stories provide the support necessary to find one's verticality. This event is free to attend and open to the public, offering a reflective artistic experience within the 14th arrondissement, where every careful movement serves to continue a silent narrative.
Compagnie Obaluaé presents a dance performance titled Elles affirment que tout geste est renversement, envisioned by choreographer Susy Chetteau. The event takes place on December 8, 2026, from 18:00 to 19:00 at the Bibliothèque Aimé Césaire in Paris.
Performed by Susy Chetteau and Annaëlle Toussaere, the piece centers on the relationship between physical movement and the act of reading. The dancers rely on piles of books to elevate themselves, revealing how literature offers the metaphorical and literal leverage needed to grow. Each deliberate gesture acts as a continuation of the narrative, highlighting the connection between the written word and physical development.
The auditory backdrop features music by The Dog with 1000 faces and Nils Frahm, with teaser music composed by Stefan Kerr Pinheiro. Technical and visual contributions include editing by Gaël.le Astier-Perret and photography by Louise-Marie Hérard. Admission is free for all attendees.
