Submitted by Julia Kraushaar on the 2017 winter session program in France sponsored by the Department of Art…
I wanted to write about an experience that I will never forget.
On Saturday, January 7th, my peers, professors and I all attended the Paris Opera House to watch the ballet. At first, I had no idea what to expect given that I had only observed this building from afar. I was eager to see what the inside was like. I can say for sure that this night exceeded my expectations and more. As I walked through the gilded corridor, my mouth dropped in awe: everything was gold with tints of red and every ceiling was higher and more exquisite than the last. When I sat down in the red velvet chair next to my friend that I had just met a few days ago, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was real life or a fairy tale. As the curtains ascended and the French ballerinas took the stage, I automatically started tearing up. This was an experience that I never thought I would be lucky enough to have. At this moment, I sat back and watched the beautiful performance while absorbing the French culture. The ballet itself was not what I expected! I was anticipating a show that would resemble something like the Nutcracker or a traditional ballet performance. However, this show was more contemporary with political innuendos. This was much like a Broadway show with drama and conflict. I enjoyed the ballet, but at times I was confused by what kinds of messages they were trying to send. Overall, this experience was life changing and it helped me keep an open mind and appreciate the culture around me.