In addition to his military prowess, Louis XIV showed a talent for dance and actively participated in the art of ballet. He performed in the Ballet of the Night (Le Ballet royal de la Nuit) as Apollo, summoned to dispel the prevailing darkness. The King's costume referred to the rising sun and was richly decorated with pearls and diamonds. His performance in the play contributed to the king's nickname - the Sun King.
During his reign, the Palace of Versailles was built, and in 1661 he financed the construction of the Royal Academy of Dance, which, along with the Royal Academy of Music founded eight years later, laid the foundation for the famous Paris Opera.
