According to Brian Henson, the Ballerina Pig puppet was built in response to Rudolf Nureyev's desire to dance with Miss Piggy in The Muppet Show. Due to the obvious complications of attempting a dance piece with one partner who does not exist below the waist, a compromise was made, and Nureyev was paired in episode 213 with a pig dancer for Swine Lake. The ballerina pig was built out of foam rubber, with measurements of 104 inches by 80 inches by 96 inches, and wore a tutu made from 40 yards of tulle.