D is for La Danse in Paris

Available to DVD soon...

My sketch after watching the trailer...

turned into a painting with a BLUE window (painting available)...

Andddd... where would you see ballet in Paris... The Palais Garnier, also known as the Opéra de Paris or Opéra Garnier, but more commonly as the Paris Opéra, is a 2,200-seat opera house on the Place de l'Opéra in Paris, France. A grand landmark designed by Charles Garnier in the Neo-Baroque style, it is regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of its time. The building is located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. (via Wikipedia)... 

Upon its inauguration in 1875, the opera house was officially named the Académie Nationale de Musique - Théâtre de l'Opéra. It retained this title until 1978 when it was re-named the Théâtre National de l'Opéra de Paris. After the opera company chose the Opéra Bastille as their principal theatre upon its completion in 1989, the theatre was re-named as the Palais Garnier, though its more official name, the Académie Nationale de Musique, is still sprawled above the columns of its front façade. In spite of the change of names and the Opera company's relocation to the Opéra Bastille, the Palais Garnier is still known by many people as the Paris Opéra, as have all of the many theatres which have served as the principal venues of the Parisian Opera and Ballet since its founding (via Wikipedia)...

In 1963 Chagall was commissioned to paint the new ceiling for the Paris Opera, a majestic 19th-century building and national monument. André Malraux, France's Minister of Culture wanted something unique and decided Chagall would be the ideal artist. However, this choice of artist led to controversy: some objected to having a Russian Jew decorate a French national monument; others took exception to the ceiling of the historic building being painted by a modern artist.The final canvas was nearly 2,400 square feet (220 sq. meters) and required 440 pounds of paint. It had five sections which were glued to polyester panels and hoisted up to the 70-foot ceiling. The images Chagall painted on the canvas paid tribute to the composers Mozart, Wagner, Mussorgsky, Berlioz and Ravel, as well as to famous actors and dancers. (via Wikipedia)...

In 1896, one of the counter-weights for the grand chandelier fell, killing one. This, as well as the underground lake, cellars, and other elements of the Opera House, inspired Gaston Leroux in 1909 to write his classic Gothic novel, The Phantom of the Opera...(via Wikipedia) 

For information about attending a performance here... visit the official website of Opera de Paris or if you are not interested in seeing a performance at least be sure to take a peek at the architecture and interior... the Grand Escalier is a FAB place to snap a photo... YOU standing on the staircase... I've done that!!!

This week I will take YOU around Paris VIRTUALLY... continuing the A to Z in Paris challenge via tossing it out ... be sure to visit other challenges and of course visit Metamorphosis Monday posts over at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch... and BLUE posts via Smiling Sal's!

See you tomorrow... what will I show you for the letter "E" ... hmmmm... remember you can make suggestions too!!