Most people know next to nothing about ballet. However, there is one dance that even the clueless will usually recognize: the Four Little Swans dance from Swan Lake.

Also known as the Dance of the Cygnets, this dance is often what jumps to mind when people think about ballet. The beautiful white costumes and the small precise movements are captivating to dancers and non-dancers alike.

I, however, have always despised it.

There isn’t a particular reason for this, besides the fact that I’ve learned it six times in the last four years. Because it is so popular and recognizable, it’s very often taught at summer dance intensives. There’s nothing wrong with this, but the fact that it’s taught at every single one I’ve been to every single year does make it a little obnoxious.

Another major problem with it is that it’s stinking hard. The way the dancers have to hold hands and move in the exact same way is extremely difficult to master because you don’t only have to dance with each other, you have to dance around each other. If your legs aren’t exactly the same height, or if you aren’t looking exactly the same way, or if you hesitate for just a split second, the entire thing falls apart.

When we learned that we were doing Swan Lake, I knew instantly that I would be one of the four little swans, and I was not looking forward to it at all. Every other experience I’ve had with this dance has ended poorly, to say the least. However, this time I was in for a surprise. It turns out that Four Little Swans is much easier to accomplish when everyone is about the same height. Also, the girls I dance with are actually skilled enough to perform the steps well, which isn’t guaranteed at summer intensives. Our director was impressed with how well we did the dance after only 45 minutes of rehearsal.

I no longer fear Four Little Swans, and all it took was one good rehearsal. Now, if only the dance would come that easily, I’d be set.