17 years to die
CICADA’S CRY
Periodical Cicadas spend 14-18 years underground growing to come out, sing a song and die in 14 days
Even with insects
some can sing,
some can’t
— Issa
Cicada’s Cry
Growing up in the South, I was always fascinated by the song of cicadas on a hot day. What do they sing about?
Periodical cicadas: creatures that spend 17 years underground in darkness for just 14 days of mating in the light. And right after? They die.
Cicada’s Cry is the series of Butoh inspired performances to discuss the hesitation at the edge of transformation. The fear of the Light, of the Truth.
I
Nymph Matured
NYMPH
The cicada life starts in the Light. The nymphs hatch from their eggs in trees. After that, they fall to the earth, where they start their journey of getting out. They spend their time tunneling through dirt. They live that way for 17 years in their nymph form.
We all get born clean and free of Lies. Our perception is crystal clear. As we fall on the ground we start experiencing life and digging through its lies.
II
Fear of Intimacy
CHORUS
Once cicadas molted, the adults start their final performance — mating song. With only one purpose – reproduction.
The sound of a chorus may reach 100 dB.
Japanese people believe that the sound produced by the insects is actually “soothing”. It is processed by the creative left side of the brain and perceived as the melody, whereas other people process cicada chorus as noise and use the logical right side of the brain.
Is it noise or the last song of Love, natural process of the cycle? Then why are we annoyed so much once the nature loudly reminds us of Love?
III
Last Light
DEATH
Cicadas cry not because they fear death, but because they dare to live. Why do people cry?
Comparing to the insects, we understand all the stages of our cycle. It’s a burden familiar to people only. Insects are free of fear and lies, they know their purpose and bravely follow the cycle. Cicada starts and ends the cycle in one place — up on the tree, in the Light. With only one difference: nymph knows the light, but the adult cicada knows both the Light and the tunnel.
I wonder will I ever sing at least for one day or die suffocating in the darkness.
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