Ballet dancer Michaela DePrince passed away on September 13, 2024, at 29. The news was shared through an Instagram post although the cause of death was not disclosed. Her deep passion for dance started from a young age but she honed her skills in everything from pirouettes to pliés. The post read:
“With pain in our hearts, we share the loss of star ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, whose artistry touched countless hearts and whose spirit inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet, and beyond.”
The statement continued:
“Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us. She stood as a beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from the darkest of places.”
Michaela DePrince was born as Mabinty Bangura in 1995 but her parents passed away in the Sierra Leone Civil War. She was adopted by Elaine DePrince and Charles DePrince from New Jersey in 1999 when she was four years old. In 2014, DePrince shared her journey in the young adult memoir Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina, co-written with Elaine DePrince.
DePrince gained recognition as a teenage dancer in the 2011 documentary First Position. Not only that, but she made history as the youngest principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She performed with the Dutch National Ballet in the Netherlands, before joining the Boston Ballet.
Michaela DePrince’s passion for ballet blossomed while she was in an orphanage
After the death of her biological parents, she was placed in an orphanage where she was labeled a "devil child" due to her vitiligo. Her passion for ballet blossomed while living in that orphanage, before she moved to the United States.
While in the orphanage, Michaela DePrince came across a magazine featuring a ballet dancer in a pink tutu, which she held onto, dreaming of becoming just like the dancer if she were ever adopted. That image became a symbol of freedom and hope for her during a difficult time. In an episode of BBC’s Hardtalk from 2017, Michaela DePrince said:
“I don’t remember the faces of my biological mom and father. I can see their figures but I don’t even remember what they look like. And if I am thinking or dreaming of her having a nightmares, it’s mostly about running from the rebels or the things that people were yelling at me about or it’s mostly those things and just the emotions I was feeling and that’s what I wake up yelling and screaming about.”
Michaela DePrince became an advocate for children impacted by war, serving as an ambassador for War Child Holland and hosting the Dare to Dream gala.
She earned the Youth American Grand Prix Scholarship to train at the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York, while also studying at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia.
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She made her professional debut with the Joburg Ballet in Johannesburg, South Africa. Michaela is survived by her sisters - Mia, Beelee, Jaye, Mariel, and Amie, as well as her brothers - Adam and Erik.
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