Höyhentämö: 7 Ways to Die

7 Ways to Die is a Butoh dance performance that focuses on the autumn season and the period of overwintering within nature’s cycle; withering, decaying, curling up, and the quiet process of dying. At the same time, the piece celebrates life and the cyclical nature of the natural world – only an ending can make a new beginning possible. In our society, death as an event is often silenced and hidden away. The performance brings the process leading to death into the realm of stage performance, challenging us to confront our own finitude and vulnerability.

The work approaches the non-human world through natural processes, embodying the transitions of autumn and winter as some plants die back while others retreat into dormancy. It addresses not only human mortality but also the withering and cyclical nature of the natural world—temporal arcs that extend far beyond the scope of a single human life.

Death is one of the few things that touches us all, regardless of gender, origin, class, privilege, skills, or species. In this way, it places us on equal footing—not only with other humans but also with other living species.

Choreography: Minja Mertanen and the artistic team

Artistic team and performance: Minja Mertanen, Giorgio Convertito, Aarni Korpela, Maarit Rankanen, Juha Sääski, and Paula Tella

Lighting and video: Henrik Miettinen

Music: Tatu Rönkkö

Costumes: Suvi Hänninen

Production: Höyhentämö