R.d.f.t.c. is a project that developed from six songs which were initially written for two different performances: Mountains (2022) and The Frontier (2023).

The songs were inspired by conversations with untrained performers who participated in those pieces, responding to my existential questions about longing, motivation, and purpose in the post-internet, transapocalyptic grind. These conversations shared a sense that people missed interdependency, connection to the practical tasks of physical survival, and nature.

I developed a series of choreographic videos for the songs — some with and some without music, thinking about the aesthetics of adjusting (an act of searching for comfort), and nostalgia as a haze-machine (that remembering the past as better interferes with making the present good); as well as Oskar Schlemmer’s Triadic Ballet, and childhood memories of agreeing to believe in magical suggestions like Santa and safety.

When I developed the six original titles — Death-bo-beath; Unsatisfied; I Got My Cult; Neon Purple Glow; Everything has already happened; Sub Song — into videos, additional material emerged, resulting in the ten accompanying shorts: What’s special about you?; Beautiful New World; Species Family; No presh it’s chill, bummer my bad; The Last Mating Call; Slow Love; Seaweed Dance; It’s You I Like; Nolan & Zander.

Songs and videos written, directed, choreographed and produced by Kyla Kegler 

Cinematographer / Editor: Tristan Gellatly

Music producer / instrumental composition: Derick Evans

Production support: Carl Lee, Lauren Pullano, Lisa Brown Carosa, Christina Buscarino

Performers: Alex Kerr, Bello Bello, Casey Sampson, Charlie Finan, Danny Gray, Devin Finan, Eve Johnstone, Gabriella Victoria, Jarrett Szymanski, Kayleah Aldrich, Lauren Lerner, Lydia Kegler, Meghan Arnold, Nicolee Jimenez, Nolan Barry, Suzanna Vaupen, TD, Ülgen Kılıç, Zach Kushner, Zander Raymond