The 334-year-old Paris Opera Ballet, one of the top four ballet troupes in the world, will stage a performance of three masterpieces in Beijing from Sept. 6 to 17, as part of activities to mark the Chinese-French Culture Year.

The Paris Opera Ballet, founded in the mid-17 century by French King Louis XIV, created the world's first ballet training program, which is still used today.

The three masterpieces are "Bolero", "Arlesienne" and "White", which respectively reflect the French spirit that could be represented by "red", "blue", and "white" colors.

According to the China Art and Entertainment Group, ballet art was born in France in the late-17th century, and got mature with the founding and development of the Paris Opera Ballet. Common ballet elements like toe dancing and the white dress were all innovated by the Paris Opera Ballet. In the 19th century, the troupe produced Giselle and Coppelia, which indicates that ballet has ushered into the golden age of romanticism.

At present, the Paris Opera Ballet has 154 artists, including 13 star players such as Aurlie Dupont and Marie-Agns Gillot, as well as 15 major performers.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2005)