The Chrysalis
The Story of the Chrysalis
by Lyrric Jackson
In a vast and vibrant continent, a queen monarch butterfly danced gracefully across the fields, her wings a tapestry of orange and black. Her mission was clear: to pollinate the plants and crops, a noble task that sustained countless ecosystems. Amidst her journey, she laid her precious eggs, tiny specks of life promising to carry on her legacy. And from each of those eggs, five humble caterpillars emerged, their destiny intertwined with the essential work of their noble mother. As the seasons turned, the queen monarch's wings grew weary, and she departed this world, leaving her offspring to navigate the intricate dance of life alone. Yet, her teachings lingered, woven into the very fabric of their being.
With each passing day, the young caterpillars ventured forth, feasting on leaves and growing stronger with each molt until they were ready to embark on their own transformative journey. Patiently, they spun their cocoons, each thread a testament to their resilience and determination. They underwent a profound metamorphosis within the sanctuaries of their chrysalises, shedding their former selves to emerge anew. And as the sun kissed the horizon, they emerged, resplendent in their newfound glory, wings unfurling to embrace the world.
Guided by instinct and the whispers of their ancestors, they flitted from flower to flower, sipping sweet nectar as they danced upon the breeze. Like their mother’s before them, their mission was clear: to pollinate, reproduce, and perpetuate the cycle of life. And so, the legacy of the queen monarch lived on in the delicate wings of her descendants, a testament to the enduring power of nature's beauty and the invaluable role each creature plays in the grand tapestry of life.
Act I: The Birth of a Legacy
What of a Caterpillar?
Choreographer: Akilah T.
Dance Artist(s): Akilah T.
The Birth/Rebirth
Choreographer: Lyrric Jackson
Dance Artist(s): Brees B., Kaitlyn B., Heidi H., Akilah T., Maysa R.W.
The Beginning
Choreographer: Maysa R.W.
Dance Artist(s): Maysa R.W.
Hatshepsut/Tunnel
Choreographer: Lyrric Jackson
Dance Artist(s)s: Brees B., Kaitlyn B., Heidi H., Akilah T., Maysa R.W.
Act II: The Journey of Transformation
Forward
Choreographer: Kaitlyn B.
Dance Artist(s)s: Kaitlyn B.
Mutatio
Choreographer: Victoria Woodward
Dance Artist(s)s: Brees B., Kaitlyn B., Heidi H., Akilah T., Maysa R.W.
Encased Transfiguration
Choreographer: Graham Schelor
Dance Artist(s)s: Brees B., Kaitlyn B., Heidi H., Akilah T., Maysa R.W.
Into the Chrysalis
Choreographer: Heidi H.
Dance Artist(s)s: Heidi H.
Challenge
Choreographer: Patsy Collins
Dance Artist(s)s: Kaitlyn B., Heidi H., Akilah T., Maysa R.W.
Enkrateia
Choreographer: Mya Butler
Dance Artist(s)s: Brees B., Kaitlyn B., Heidi H., Akilah T., Maysa R.W.
Act III: The Butterfly's Flight
Homecoming
Choreographer: Jasmine Newsome
Dance Artist(s)s: Kaitlyn B., Heidi H., Akilah T., Maysa R.W.
The Final Flight
Choreographer: Brees B.
Dance Artist(s)s: Brees B.
The Chrysalis
Poems by Act
Poems by Lyrric Jackson
Japanese Audio Translations by Kyoko Takeuchi
Act I: The Birth of a Legacy
What of a Caterpillar?
What is a caterpillar that cannot eat
What is a flower that cannot grow
What is a star that is unable to shine
Where will I send a bird that cannot fly
Deeply waiting and navigating the journey
What is a tree that cannot take root
What is a moon with no place to orbit
And where does a lost soul find solitude
In the depths, we wonder, hearts tried and true
Awaiting an answer to the questions we drew
What is a lotus that never blooms
A baby to be born that never takes to the womb
What can be said of a caterpillar that never discovers food
A butterfly still furled, remaining in its chrysalis, who's beauty may never be consumed
What of a queen ending her reign
A monarch with no empire
A caterpillar with no cocoon
The Beginning
We are unwounded yet at times we stumble
To lose you is like a momentary coma
You were our breath
How might we take this journey now?
Will we make it to the destination without the scars of the quest?
What is this uncomfortable process?
The more we eat, the more we grow
Only, we quite miss the spiritual food that came from you
There was a wisdom to your flight
A grace that we could never match but could admire
We need you to help us
Our wings have not unfurled
We are still so small, how will we master this with no wings to help us soar
You must come back
Our souls now have no home
Are we to truly do this alone?
Act II: The Journey of Transformation
Forward
As we find our way to see the self clearly
We must acknowledge every part
The darkness
The light
The doubt
The confidence
The uncertainty
The fearlessness
This is an ode to the source of self transformation we all seek out in our darkest hours
To the the affirmations that light the way as we brave the journey
We are never on our own
We never fly without the company of wind
There is always time to grow
We only have to trust the path that has been set forth
And take flight
Into the Chrysalis
To transform
To change
Life's process is that of a mystery
As we unfold our wings and begin to fly
Here is where we remember to be brave
Where our hearts become fearless
The sun begins to energize parts of us that we didn't know needed the warmth
The moon lights the dark pathways when we can't see
We change as we break free
Our spirit is no longer enclosed
Our wings are free to expand and grow
We are free
Able to roam and master the journey ahead
We are free
We are free
We are free
Act III: The Butterfly's Flight
The Final Flight
After we fly we rest
Like the queen monarch before us
We take on the circle of life
Our wings remembered for how far they flew
We have done all that we set out to do
Here we no longer wonder
There is no more fear to be faced
There is only love here
We rest in knowing that there is purpose in this place
We have conquered more
We have seen the most beautiful blooms
As they open to live for the spring
We experience their fragrance until they wilt
And we can no longer taste their sweet nectar
Until our purpose no longer lives
Until it is time for us to wilt
Dancing, dancing butterfly
All around the world you fly
Dancing, dancing butterfly
Now it's time to say goodbye
The Dance Artists.
-
Brees B.
Pre-Professional Company Member
-
Kaitlyn B.
Pre-Professional Company Member
-
Heidi H.
Pre-Professional Company Member
-
Akilah Thomas
Pre-Professional Company Member
-
Maysa Rice-Walker
Pre-Professional Company Member
The Artists.
-
Lyrric Jackson
Founder & Artistic Director
-
Kyoko Takeuchi
Visual Artist
-
Aryanna Allen
Education & Administrative Director
-
Jasmine Newsome
Lead Dance Instructor
-
Mya Butler
Assistant to the Founder & Administrative Intern
-
Victoria Woodward
Education Intern
-
Patsy Collins
Guest Artist
-
Graham Schelor
Guest Artist
Congratulations Maysa on all of your achievements in dance. We Love You! Grandma and Granddad!
Congratulations Maysa, Love Cousin Benidia!
Congratulations Maysa! Love TT Lynne!
Keep working hard Masya! -Lyrrad Consulting LLC
Congratulations Maysa on another successful year of dancing! Keep Dreaming and Shooting for the stars!
Congratulations Maysa on all of your achievements in dance. We Love You! Grandma and Granddad! Congratulations Maysa, Love Cousin Benidia! Congratulations Maysa! Love TT Lynne! Keep working hard Masya! -Lyrrad Consulting LLC Congratulations Maysa on another successful year of dancing! Keep Dreaming and Shooting for the stars!
Thank you to our Donors:
Daynna Bankston
Derrick & Alexis Burgess
The Cosby Jackson Family
Bernard Jackson**
Cliff Jackson
Lyrrad Consulting, LLC
Marjorie Moss
Robin O’Neal
Deun Pickett**
Darrell Reid
Benidia Rice
Keith & Nakeisha Rice
Ketra Rice
Miranda Rice
Robert & Merline Rice
Kyoko Takeuchi **
Amechi Thomas
The Yee Family Foundation
** Artist/Collaborator
Make a donation.
Lyrric Jackson Dance is a grassroots dance education organization and performance art company that receives donations through the support of our local non-profit fiscal sponsor, T. Lang Dance. Your tax-deductible gift will assist our company in continuing to provide wholistic dance programming for local and global youth dance artists and professionals. Our education program mission is to foster creativity, communication skills, leadership, and empathy that keeps emerging dance artists at the forefront of the learning experience.
Fiscal Sponsor: T. Lang Dance, Inc.
Instructions: To donate, please notate Lyrric Jackson Dance as the donation recipient.
EIN: 81-2632268