text: **Ballet**
  
  Louis loved ballet and frequently danced in court ballets during the early half of his reign. In general, Louis was an eager dancer 
  who performed 80 roles in 40 major ballets. This approaches the career of a professional ballet dancer.[118] 
  
  His choices were strategic and varied. He danced four parts in three of Molière's comédies-ballets, which are plays accompanied 
  by music and dance. Louis played an Egyptian in*Le Mariage forcé*in 1664, a Moorish gentleman in*Le Sicilien*in 1667, and both 
  Neptune and Apollo in*Les Amants magnifiques*in 1670. 
  
  He sometimes danced leading roles that were suitably royal or godlike (such as Neptune, Apollo, or the Sun).[118] At other times, 
  he would adopt mundane roles before appearing at the end in the lead role. It is considered that, at all times, he provided his roles 
  with sufficient majesty and drew the limelight with his flair for dancing.[118] For Louis, ballet may not have merely been a tool for 
  manipulation in his propaganda machinery. The sheer number of performances he gave as well as the diversity of roles he played 
  may serve to indicate a deeper understanding and interest in the art form.[118][119] 