Danse des petits cygnes or Dance of the Little Swans is the ultimate expression of dancing in harmony. This breathtaking piece of choreography in the second act of Swan Lake sees four ballerinas perform for two minutes in complete unison while their arms are linked.

Choreographed by Lev Ivanov, the piece is inspired by the formation of cygnets when protecting each other. It ends when they break the link and attempt but fail to fly.

Often assigned to up-and-coming dancers, it allows younger ballerinas to shine without the pressure of a solo piece. The challenge of performing in complete synchronicity not only showcases the dancers’ technical skills but demands utmost cooperation since each one must be performing at the same level of artistry for harmony to be achieved.

In this clip are principal dancer Jasmine Pia Dames, soloist Jessa Balote, and former Ballet Manila dancers Tiffany Chiang-Janolo and Heewon Cho in the 2017 production of Swan Lake.