The
Paris Opera Ballet (
French: Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris) is the oldest national
ballet company in the world, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it. It has always been an integral part of the
Paris Opera, which was founded in 1669 as the Académie d'Opéra (Academy of Opera), although theatrical dance did not become an important component of the Paris Opera until 1673, after it was renamed the Académie Royale de Musique (Royal Academy of Music) and placed under the leadership of
Jean-Baptiste Lully. The Paris Opera has had many different official names during its long history but since 1994 has been called the Opéra National de Paris (Paris National Opera). The company presents ballet primarily at the
Palais Garnier.