Brazilian dancer Valentina Raphael was born in San Diego, California, where she also completed her primary and secondary education. Throughout her studies, Valentina trained intensively in ballet and participated in numerous courses and workshops. Among her most formative experiences were training programs at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in New York (2019), the American Ballet Theatre School in New York (2021), and The Joffrey Academy of Dance in Chicago (2023).
From 2019 to 2023, Valentina danced with Golden State Ballet in California, appearing in productions such as The Nutcracker (George Balanchine) and The Sleeping Beauty (Marius Petipa). Between 2023 and 2025, she was a member of the trainee program at The Joffrey Academy of Dance, performing in works including The Nutcracker (Christopher Wheeldon), as well as Swan Lake and Raymonda (both Marius Petipa).
Valentina has also received numerous awards for her performances. In 2022, she was awarded a full scholarship to Ballet West Academy and won the Universal Ballet Competition in Los Angeles in the contemporary dance category, placing second for a variation from Giselle. In the same year, she twice earned first place at the Icon Dance Awards in Los Angeles — in the solo contemporary category and for her performance of Dulcinea’s variation from Don Quixote.
Since the 2025/2026 season, Valentina has been a member of NDM Ballet as a corps de ballet member with soloist obligations.
Cast - Season:
| dancENJOY | Corps de ballet |
