The Raffaella Ballet

my perfect italian summer in south bend 🛵🩰🍸 There aren’t words to describe how it felt to be a part of the creation process for such a special piece of art. Raffaella was truly an angel on earth, and I can only hope she was smiling down filled with joy this past weekend. I’m so grateful for the life long friendships that were made and the memories I will cherish always. Love you guys!! :,) A special thanks to the Stroiks for making all of us feel so welcome and to @ckretz92 for being our fearless leader through this process (not to mention making a masterpiece in only a month and a half!!) Raffaella’s joy, beauty, and grace can inspire us all & truly save the world🕊️

Congratulations to the cast, crew and family behind the creation of the original new production @raffaella.ballet ! To put her beautiful memory to a beautiful ballet is an incredible labor of love. . . Our Open Adult Ballet class today, July 3, at 12pm CST is in honor of her. @maddiedstein will be teaching today’s class. 🩰 . #adultballet #adultballetbeginner #adultballetcommunity #balletworkout #balletbarre #inspiration #feelgood #olderdancers #balletover40 #balletover50 #balletover30 #balletover60 #vitalityballet #virtualstudio #onlineballet #balletathome #inclusiveballet

Some after class partnering fun with @stillmayim from last week! Watch until the end 🤯💪🏻 #sostrong #slowmopress

I can’t begin to describe how meaningful this past month and a half has been to me. From meeting a golden group of dancers from all over the country who felt instantly like family, to getting to work with the talented @ckretz92 who brought this fairytale alive, to witnessing the pure love of a family dedicated to honoring the most beautiful soul I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. Raffi, you are so deeply loved and missed. This ballet is a testament to the impact you had on every single person you met and touched in your life. Thank you for never excluding anyone, for greeting me every day with a “hello beautiful” followed by the tightest, warmest hug I’ve ever received, for emulating pure beauty and grace on and off stage, for being humble no matter what kind of success life brought you. But most of all, thank you for being the best example of what it means to embody the love of God and sharing your light with us all. Your beauty will help save the world 💜🕊️ @raffaella.ballet

No toes were (seriously) harmed in the making of this video 🫣🥲 #theballetscout #ballet #dance #dancer #pain

The Raffaella Ballet I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to put into words the magnitude of what this ballet has meant to me. It was a beautiful tribute to such a beautiful soul. Thank you @raffstroik for spreading so much kindness and beauty, for your profound impact on everyone you encountered, and for ultimately bringing this incredible group of people together. Thank you to the entire Stroik family for creating this new ballet from a place of so much love with attention to every last detail. You have created something beautiful and timeless. Thank you to @bloodgood777 for having faith in me and giving me my first professional contract, I will never forget it. Thank you to @ckretz92 for trusting me with your choreography. It was absolutely life changing to have performed in this world premiere, and I could not be more grateful. Thank you to my incredible partners @mrusskie93 and @janimalcracker843 . Lastly, thank you to the entire cast and crew of @raffaella.ballet for welcoming me and for being the most wonderful group of people to work with. I hope to see all of you again in the near future 💕 Beauty will save the world. Always.

It is difficult to put into words just how meaningful these performances have been 💜 Sharing, celebrating & honoring Raffaella in a beautiful way 🕊️ Beauty will save the world ✨ @raffaella.ballet

🤍Raffaella Ballet To say that being a part of this show has changed my life would be an understatement. I am in awe of the love and strength of the Stroik family, and the power of their herculean efforts to share that love in a True, Good, and Beautiful way. I am eternally grateful for the friendships we’ve formed here. And I am reminded that even our greatest losses are not the end. This is not all that there is. @raffaella.ballet

Sometimes being pro-life means honoring a life well lived and following what is true, good and beautiful. 🤍🩰 @raffaella.ballet #raffaellaballet #raffaella #ballet #fairytale #prolife #prattprolifeapologetics #beauty #goodness #truth

Beauty will save the world🕊️ Words cannot express the gratitude and love I have for this ballet honoring the beautiful life of Raffaella Stroik and for all the people who were a part of putting it together. It was an incredible gift and I will always hold these memories close to my heart💜

Raffaella 🌹 My past 3 weeks spent in South Bend, IN will always be remembered. Being part of such an incredible new ballet, choreographed by an old friend @ckretz92 to honor a beautiful soul, was unlike any experience I have been a part of. It was an honor to perform the role of the ‘Emerald Queen’. The resounding reception we received from the audiences this weekend was confirmation that we succeeded in sharing the joy of dancing and Raffaella’s motto that “Beauty will save the world.” Thank you, Claire, for this opportunity and to my friends and family who made the trip to come see this performance!

To your heart - to the kindness you showed me and the rest of the world. To celebrating you Raffaella. To carrying you with me always - to your beauty that will continue to shape the world. To this beautiful ballet celebrating your life. To you. For you. Always.