Michaela Mabinty DePrince, an inspirational figure in the world of ballet, has passed away at the age of 29, as announced by a spokesperson on her Instagram page on Friday. No cause of death has been revealed.
"Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength," the statement read. "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, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from the darkest places."
DePrince’s family also shared their grief. Her sister, Mia DePrince, expressed: "I am truly in a state of shock and deep sadness. My beautiful sister is no longer here. From the very beginning of our story back in Africa, sleeping on a shared mat in the orphanage, Michaela and I would create our own ballets. When we were adopted, our parents nurtured our dreams, shaping the graceful ballerina the world knew. She was an inspiration."
Born Mabinty Bangura in Sierra Leone, DePrince’s early years were marked by tragedy. After the deaths of her parents during the country’s civil war, she was sent to an orphanage at the age of three. There, she endured mistreatment and malnutrition, especially due to her vitiligo, a skin condition that caused her to be ostracized.
"I was given the number 27, the least favorite child in the orphanage," DePrince recalled in a 2012 interview. "I got the least food, clothes, everything." After fleeing the orphanage due to threats of bombing, she made a perilous journey to a refugee camp. In 1999, she was adopted by an American family and moved to the U.S., where her passion for ballet truly blossomed.
Inspired by a picture of a ballerina she saw as a child, DePrince began formal ballet training at age five. Despite facing racism and skepticism — being told the U.S. wasn’t ready for a Black ballerina and that Black girls weren’t worth investing in — she persevered. She attended the prestigious Rock School for Dance Education and became a young star in the ballet world.
DePrince gained wider attention at 17 after appearing in the documentary First Position, which followed young dancers preparing for the Youth America Grand Prix. She later trained at American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem as its youngest principal dancer.
Throughout her career, DePrince broke barriers, performing with major companies like the Dutch National Ballet and Boston Ballet. She also gained mainstream recognition by dancing in Beyoncé’s *Lemonade*. Despite her successes, she never forgot her difficult childhood and consistently advocated for more diversity in ballet.
In addition to her artistic career, DePrince was a dedicated humanitarian, with plans to open a school for the arts in her native Sierra Leone. "The arts changed me as a person. I want to provide those same opportunities to children who won’t have the same chances I had," she said in 2015.
Her family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to War Child, an organization DePrince supported. "This work meant the world to her, and your donations will directly help children affected by conflict," they wrote.
DePrince's legacy as a trailblazer in ballet and her humanitarian efforts will continue to inspire future generations.
0 Comments