13 Different Keys

The Atlantis Building,
Brick Lane, London E1
15 - 19 July 1999

Photograph by Sarah Ainslie

Earlier in 1999 Artangel had blacked out 500 square metres of glass skylight to create the perfect environment for Douglas Gordon's Feature Film on the top floor of the cavernous Atlantis Building. Returning to the same space that summer for a very different experience, this time in natural light, the diverse worlds of classical ballet and modern dance were brought together under Siobhan Davies’ direction in 13 Different Keys.

It began with an overheard comment at dinner - The Royal Ballet principal dancer Deborah Bull proclaiming she would like to work with renowned choreographer Siobhan Davies before retiring from professional dance. Thus began a collaboration between the schools of classical and contemporary dance. Bull and two other dancers from The Royal Ballet - Jenny Tattersall and Peter Abegglen - joined Siobhan Davies and one of her company's founding dancers Gill Clarke to develop a unique meeting between the two distinct disciplines.

The performance took place on two catwalk-style stages arranged in a cross in the building, which was part of Brick Lane's Truman Brewery space; the audience were able to move around and view the work from numerous angles at close proximity to the dancers. The music, Le Labyrinthe, was composed by Marin Marais in 1717 and interpreted for the performance by Reiko Ichise and Carole Cerasi.

13 Different Keys was also filmed for television and eventually broadcast by Channel 4 on 31 December 1999.

Whilst working on the project, Siobhan Davies was invited to create a work for the Royal Ballet's subsequent season. The result - A Stranger's Taste - had dancers Bull, Tattersall and Abegglen take their newfound understanding of contemporary dance to the newly refurbished stage of the Royal Opera House.

Commissioned and produced by Artangel in association with the Royal Ballet, supported by the London Dance Network and the Quercus Trust. This project was supported by Arts Council England, Special Angels and The Company of Angels

Funders and Collaborators