Tour: Arts in Paris Destination: Paris, France Specialisation: Performance Arts – Dance, Drama, Choral & Art Master Class or Performance Itinerary: 5-days / 4-nights

Day

1 Hotel Dinner

2 Master Class 1 Free Time

Master Class 2 or

Performance Free Time Dinner

Evening

Sightseeing

3 Dinner

4 Master Class 3

Master Class 4 or

Performance

Hotel

Dinner

Presentation

Evening

5

Paris Sightseeing - Hop-On/Off Sightseeing Tour, Seine River Cruise, Ei ffel Tower,

Palace of Versai l les

Free Time for Exploration

Depart Paris ; travel home

Arts in Paris - Sample Itinerary

Morning Afternoon Evening

Travel to Paris , France

Vis ions Welcome & Safety

Orientation

As with all sample itineraries, please be aware that this is an “example” of a schedule and that the activities included may be variable dependent upon dates, weather, special requests and other factors. Itineraries will be confirmed prior to travel.

Paris…. Whether you're strolling along the Seine or soaking up city life from a sidewalk

café, you'll see why Paris is synonymous with the word ‘style.’ Of course, you can't miss the Eiffel

Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Versailles and the Louvre, but be sure to spend a quiet moment in the

Jardin de Tuileries and savour an éclair from a patisserie or a glass of Beaujolais in a bistro. From

culinary delights to cultural sights, haute couture to heady romance, Paris will tempt every one of your

senses.

Poems and songs were written, films were shot, scenes were painted and photographed – and they all have one setting: the famed ‘City of Lights.’ So - what makes Paris, the cosmopolitan capital of France, different from all the other cities in Europe? What makes this unique and dazzling place the subject of a long-winded love affair with a city? Perhaps it’s the 11-million residents who are occupying such a huge city. Or the monuments, museums, the famed Eiffel Tower – and the fact that Paris is one of the most romantic places to be in the world! No matter which of these attractions hold an allure to you, there’s really no resisting the pull that Paris has as it tugs on your heartstrings.

Paris has an almost 1,800-year old history and the city itself can be considered a living and breathing museum. It still holds a certain charm for those who are looking for modernity amidst the ruins, probably because the city is a pleasurable mix of what’s old and new! Paris is the capital city of France and is located in the Île-de-France region, on the Seine River. It has an estimated population of 2,153,600 inhabitants and the region is the centre of France economic activity. Offices of organisations such as UNESCO, NATO, the OECD and the ICC are also located in Paris. It’s not only an economic centre, but also a city of learning and culture. From the first to fifth century, Paris was called ‘Lutetia’ but after this period it adopted its current name. Paris is sometimes called 'The City of Light' because of its cultural lifestyle and intellectual prestige, but also for its beautiful appearance. Paris is one of the most wonderful cities in the world, a metropolis that satisfies every guest’s expectations. Paris territory was first inhabited by a sub-tribe of Celtic Senones called the ‘Parisii’ who settled in the area near the Seine River from around 250 B.C. During the late 17th and the 18th century, Paris acquired glory as the scene of many of France's greatest cultural achievements - the plays of Molière, Racine, and Corneille; the music of Lully, Rameau, and Gluck; the paintings of Watteau, Fragonard, and Boucher; and the salons where many of the philosophers of the Enlightenment gathered. Paris continues to grow and change right before our eyes… a spectacular city and one definitely not to be missed!

“Well informed, eloquent and oh-so-romantic, the ‘City of Light’ is a philosopher,

a poet, a crooner. As it always has been, Paris is a million different things to a

million different people.” -- Lonely Planet

Day 1 Dinner

Groups participating in Visions ‘Arts in Paris’ will generally arrive in the afternoon. Upon arrival, we’ll check into our hotel and get settled. Get ready to experience Paris! Sample Hotel – Hotel Ibis The Ibis Hotel has 80 air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi, a restaurant with a breakfast buffet, and a bar serving snacks 24-hours daily. Rooms are functional and comfortable, including bed duvets, desk, Internet, TV, and a nice bathroom with shower or tub. Hotels bookings will be confirmed once your tour is secured.

Upon arrival, we’ll settle into our hotel, have our Visions Welcome & Safety Meeting, grab some dinner and then the rest of the evening is ours! Check out the sites, take an evening visit to a local museum, have a coffee and croissant at a Parisian café… get to know Paris! Day 2 Breakfast & dinner

Good morning Paris! Today we embark on our arts training! Get ready to shine! Our Parisian Academy Tours include 4 tailor-made Dance, Drama, Art, Choral or combination Master Classes. Workshop contents are developed between you, the Party Leader, and our European team of professional tutors to provide the specific training and instruction in the areas you are seeking and creating a personalised programme to suit your individual needs. Classes are 2-hours in length and are instructed by our specialised teams. Master Classes 1 & 2 – Before the start of the tour, teachers will have spoken to our Arts specialists to discuss and agree upon the programme contents of all Master Classes, the goals and the specific instruction given. For those that are seeking performance opportunities, we are delighted to serve you with a fantastic mix of venues and ambiances. While suitable locations are vast in the City of Light, we are happy to provide custom opportunities. Some of our preferred locations include:

Notre Dame Cathedral – Attracting over 10-million visitors a year, Notre Dame Cathedral is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, and among the largest and best-known church buildings within the France Catholic Churches and in the world. The naturalism of its sculptures and stained glass serve to contrast it with earlier Romanesque architecture. With a bustling atmosphere, this majestic venue always attracts large audiences and promises a truly memorable performance for groups with a sacred repertoire.

Chartres Cathedral - The current cathedral, mostly constructed between 1194 and 1220, is the last of at least five which have occupied the site since the town became a bishopric in the 4th century. It is designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which calls it "the high point of French Gothic art and a masterpiece". The cathedral has been well preserved! The majority of the original stained-glass windows survive intact, while the architecture has seen only minor changes since the early 13th century. Choirs who are able to sing at the cathedral will enjoy an outstanding experience. The venue, so rich in history, provides a truly impeccable backdrop for young voices.

Église de la Madeleine – Église de la Madeleine is a Roman Catholic church occupying a commanding position in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The Church was designed in its present form as a temple to the glory of Napoleon’s army. The site of this edifice, centred at the end of rue Royale, required a suitably monumental end from the time the square was established in 1755, as Place Louis XV. The settlement around the site was called Ville l'Évêque, for it had belonged to the Bishop of Paris since the time of Philip II of France, when the Bishop seized the synagogue that stood on the site from the Jews of Paris in 1182, and consecrated it a church dedicated to Mary Magdalene. A stunning performance venue!

Parc Georges Brassens - Named after George Brassens, the past resident singer, songwriter and poet, the central feature of the park is a large pond, bordered by lawns and groves of trees. The park also has a rose garden and a garden of medicinal and aromatic plants. The sloping hill features a vineyard, a winding stream, and a jumble of artificial stones for children to climb. The highest part of the park is home to a collection of beehives. Simply beautiful! Groups will be sure to get a good audience in this lively residential area just south of the city, and they can perform on a modern covered bandstand located in the centre of the park.

Jardin Du Luxembourg – The Luxembourg Garden was created in 1612 by Marie de' Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France, for a new residence she constructed, the Luxembourg Palace. The garden today is owned by the French Senate, which meets in the Palace. It covers 23 hectares and is known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, flowerbeds, model sailboats on its circular basin, and picturesque Medici Fountain, built in 1620. As the second largest public park in Paris, the Garden is a beautiful and tranquil retreat for those seeking peace from city life. Visions groups will delight in the stunning surroundings, playing in a covered bandstand for appreciative audiences. An excellent outdoor venue!

Disneyland Paris – Put on your ears, step into the magic and perform on stage at Europe’s most-visited themed attraction! The resort includes 4,800 acres and encompasses two theme parks, hotels, an

entertainment complex and more. Come experience the glitz and glamour where you’ll be treated like professionals by the Disney staff to help take your performance ‘to infinity and beyond’. As with all Disney resort performance locations, please be advised that an audition tape is required. Disney welcomes bands, dance groups, choirs and flag teams. We’ll have lunch on our own and then, after completion of our Master Class workshops, we’ll have the evening to explore Paris! Of course, if you’re performing in Disney Paris, spend the rest of your day enjoying the fantastic park!

Day 3 Breakfast & dinner

Rise and shine! Today is a day for fun and exploration! Teachers will select either a day exploring the city’s highlights or if preferred, ask us about a day at Euro Disney (supplemental fee required) if not already scheduled. After breakfast in our hotel we’ll transfer by coach to a pick-up for our Hop On/Off Sightseeing Tour, complete with commentary and a Seine River Cruise!

The Big Bus Hop On/Off Paris Sightseeing Tour - Discover the popular sights of Paris at your own pace with the Big Bus hop-on hop-off sightseeing pass. Plus, view the city’s major highlights from a different perspective as you cruise along the River Seine. Start by boarding an open-top, double-decker bus and enjoy panoramic views of many Paris attractions including the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and Notre-Dame Cathedral. Enjoy the locations sitting comfortably in your bus or explore by foot, by getting off at any of the stops around the city. Buses operate on 2 routes with frequent departures, so you can hop on and off as you wish. Also included is a complimentary walking tour covering the major highlights of the city. Learn about the fascinating history of Paris and its iconic sites from an informative audio guide available in 11 languages – English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic and Korean. Routes Today’s excursions may also include The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles. Let us know what you would like to include in your day so we can set you up for success. Groups may feel free to add on Museums to their day of sightseeing, several of which are free to school groups. The Eiffel Tower - As soon as you take that first step: that’s it, you’ll see for yourself how the scenery seems to expand around you. The roofs of Paris start to appear and the monuments step out of the shadows. The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Exposition Universelle to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the French Revolution. Its construction in 2 years, 2 months and 5 days was a veritable technical and architectural achievement. "Utopia achieved", a symbol of technological prowess at the end of the 19th Century, it was a demonstration of French engineering personified by Gustave Eiffel and a defining moment of the industrial era. Over the decades, the Eiffel Tower has seen remarkable achievements, extraordinary light shows, and prestigious visitors. A mythical and audacious site, it has always inspired artists and challenges. As France’s symbol in the world and the showcase of Paris, today it welcomes almost 7 million visitors a year, making it the most visited paid monument in the world.

The Louvre Museum – The Musée du Louvre is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the right bank of the Seine. Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet).

The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) which began as a fortress built in the late 12th century under Philip II. Remnants of the fortress are visible in the basement of the museum. The

building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace. In 1682, Louis XIV chose the Palace of Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection. In 1692, the building was occupied by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, which in 1699 held the first of a series of salons. The Académie remained at the Louvre for 100 years. During the French Revolution, the Nation Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum, to display the nation's masterpieces. The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being royal and confiscated church property. The size of the collection increased under Napoleon and the museum was renamed the Musée Napoléon. After the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, many works seized by his armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces. Holdings have grown steadily through donations and gifts since the Third Republic. As of 2008, the collection is divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings. www.louvre.fr/en The Château de Versailles (Palace of Versailles) - Out of a marshy forest and an old feudal chateau, Louis XIV, in fifty years’ reign and thanks to the genius of the greatest of French, Dutch and Italian artistes of his time, made one of the largest and finest chateaus in the world. Symbol of the magnificence and splendours of absolute power, Versailles offers you its grand apartments, its opera, a marvel of luxury and refinement, its royal chapel, a masterpiece of sacred art. Complete your visit of this exceptional site by taking a walk through the admirable gardens designed by Le Nôtre. http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

After our day of exploration, we’ll head back to our hotel for dinner. Later, the evening is ours to enjoy! Day 4 Breakfast & dinner

Good morning Paris! After breakfast, we’ll have our final two Master Classes, or another performance! Master Classes 3 & 4 – Teachers may opt to have all classes in one discipline, or may elect to have both multiple options included during the week. All classes are instructed by our European team of tutors and are 2-hours in length. After our workshops, we’ll have dinner leaving the late evening open for a moonlit walk or a variety of wonderful evening activities!

Day 5 Breakfast

Rise and shine! Following breakfast at our hotel and a morning at leisure, groups will depart Paris. If you would like to include additional days to your tour for more sightseeing or Master Classes; please enquire!

ARTS IN PARIS – FRANCE

Minimum Booking Numbers: 20 students

What’s Included: Motorcoach transfers or flights

4-nights’ accommodation Breakfasts and dinners daily 4 2-hour tutored Master Classes / Performances Hop On/Off Sightseeing Bus with narration Seine River Cruise excursion Eiffel Tower excursion Palace of Versailles excursion Presentation evening hotel conference room Visions Ambassador 24-hour emergency cover

What’s Not Included: Fully comprehensive insurance (mandatory)

Transfers to/from home airport if travelling via air Transportation for activities not shown in the itinerary Entry fees required for Museums Lunches in resort Cost of visas, full or collective passports Cost of inoculations or medication required for travel Sightseeing / Entertainment Options not shown Hotel incidental deposits & bills – meals, mini-bar items, recreation charges, purchases billed to room, Any gratuities – coach drivers, maid / bellman services,

tour ambassador

As always, our staff are always available to you to answer any questions you may have regarding programming. If we may serve you in any way, please do not hesitate to

contact us.

United Kingdom: info@visionsineducation.co.uk / 01444 810399 The Americas: info@visions-in-education.com / 417.231.4892