To the right and to the left of this landing are stairways to the floor,
on a plane with the first row of boxes. On this floor stand thirty
monolith columns of Sarrancolin marble, with white marble bases
and capitals. Pilasters of peach-blossom and violet stone are against
the corresponding walls. More than fifty blocks had to be extracted
from the quarry to find thirty perfect monoliths.
"The foyer de la danse has particular interest for the habitues
of the Opera. It is a place of reunion to which subscribers to three
performances a week are admitted between the acts in accordance
with a usage established in 1870. Three immense looking-glasses
cover the back wall of the FOYER, and a chandelier with one
hundred and seven burners supplies it with light. The paintings
include twenty oval medallions, in which are portrayed the twenty
danseuses of most celebrity since the opera has existed in France,
and four panels by M. Boulanger, typifying `The War Dance', `The
Rustic Dance', `The Dance of Love' and `The Bacchic Dance.'
While the ladies of the ballet receive their admirers in this foyer,
they can practise their steps.
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