Michaela Mabinty DePrince, a pioneering figure in the world of ballet, has passed away at the age of 29, as announced by a spokesperson on her Instagram account on Friday. The cause of her death has not yet been disclosed.
The post described her life as one marked by “grace, purpose, and strength.” It highlighted her dedication to her craft, humanitarian work, and the bravery she displayed in overcoming significant challenges. “She stood as a beacon of hope for many, proving that beauty and greatness can emerge from even the darkest situations,” the caption read.
Following her death, DePrince’s family shared their grief in a statement. Mia DePrince expressed her shock and sorrow, stating, “My beautiful sister is no longer here.” She reflected on their early days in an orphanage in Africa, where they would create their own musical theater plays and ballets. Mia noted how their adoptive parents nurtured Michaela’s dreams, leading her to become the remarkable ballerina many admired.
Born Mabinty Bangura in Sierra Leone, DePrince lost both of her parents to the civil war and was sent to an orphanage at the age of three, where she faced neglect due to her vitiligo. She famously recounted her hardships, revealing that she was often at the bottom of the orphanage hierarchy, receiving less food and care.
DePrince made a harrowing journey to safety after hearing news that the orphanage was under threat of bombing. She was later adopted in Ghana in 1999 by an American woman, who noted that Michaela was “sick and traumatized by the war.” After her adoption, DePrince moved to the United States at age four.
Her passion for ballet ignited after seeing a photo of a ballerina, leading her to start formal training at just five years old. Despite setbacks, including discouraging remarks about racial barriers in ballet, she persevered. DePrince attended the prestigious Rock School for Dance Education and gained recognition in the documentary “First Position.” She earned a scholarship to study at the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet, eventually becoming the youngest principal dancer in the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s history.
Over the years, she performed in several prominent productions and was featured in Beyoncé’s “Lemonade.” DePrince joined the Boston Ballet in 2021, where she took on the leading role in “Coppelia,” a ballet film.
In her interviews, DePrince often credited pioneering Black dancers for inspiring her journey and emphasized the need for greater representation in ballet. She expressed a strong desire to establish a dance school in Sierra Leone to provide opportunities for underprivileged children.
DePrince was a vocal advocate for the inclusion of Black dancers in ballet, acknowledging the lack of representation in the field. In remembrance of her life, her family requests that donations be made to War Child, a charity she supported, to help children affected by armed conflict.