The ballet premiered on June 29, 2024, at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend, Indiana.

[3] Following Raffaella's untimely death, her parents Duncan and Ruth Stroik began work on an original ballet libretto in 2019.

Michael Kurek, emeritus professor of music at Vanderbilt University, was commissioned to write the original score with an emphasis on traditional melody structure and tonal composition.

The ballet's classical choreography is in the spirit of Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and George Balanchine.

[1] The ballet's libretto is based on Raffaella's life, featuring characters inspired by her friends and mentors such as Violette Verdy.

Set in the Italian village of San Michele on Lake Como, Italy during the 18th century, Raffaella is the story of a girl born to dance, welcomed at birth by a mysterious holy man and a transcendent prince.

[2]At nightfall, a mother and father welcome the miraculous birth of their daughter, and the next day the entire village of San Michele rejoices.

A mysterious man prophesies that Raffaella will grow up to be as beautiful as a rose and that she will bring great joy into people's lives.

Finally, the Duke of San Michele breaks up the fight, and Raffaella pleads with him to be lenient on the young men, out of a desire to help her friend Antonio.

She attends a renowned ballet school led by the Emerald Queen - one of the most esteemed teachers in all the world.

Amidst the snow, the Prince leads Raffaella to his mountaintop kingdom, a place of joy and the beauty that saves the world.

Kurek described his compositional approach as seeking to capture "a certain spirit of unspoiled beauty, innocence, and heroic goodness.

The score features several leitmotifs from Catholic Gregorian chant including Salve Regina and Tantum Ergo.

[5] In an interview with Notre Dame Magazine, Kurek emphasized his interest in tonality and writing "memorable melodies" for Raffaella.

[7] Due to popular request, a multi-angle live stage recording of the ballet will be offered to the public October 31, 2024.

Jane Coombs wrote in The Wall Street Journal that:"Ms. Kretzschmar has choreographed an impeccably paced ballet that builds to a moving conclusion, propelled by Mr. Kurek’s neo-romantic music that synchronizes closely with the pantomime.

"[12]In Airmail, Laura Jacobs wrote: "“For many young women, the commitment to classical dance is not unlike a religious calling.