Ballet dancer Michaela Mabinty DePrince, who rose to fame after being adopted from an orphanage in war-torn Sierra Leone, has passed away at the age of 29, according to a statement released by her family. The statement, posted on DePrince’s social media accounts, described her as an “unforgettable inspiration” and highlighted her journey from Africa to performing on some of the world’s most prestigious stages.
DePrince was adopted by an American couple and gained recognition at a young age. By 17, she had been featured in a documentary film and appeared on the TV show “Dancing With the Stars.” After completing her education at the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, she became a principal dancer at Dance Theatre of Harlem. She later joined the Dutch National Ballet in the Netherlands before returning to the United States and joining the Boston Ballet in 2021.
The Boston Ballet expressed their condolences in a statement to The Associated Press, describing DePrince as a “beautiful person” and praising her talent as both a dancer and individual. Throughout her career, DePrince shared her remarkable story through various mediums. In addition to writing a memoir titled “Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina,” she also authored a children’s book called “Ballerina Dreams.”
DePrince faced challenges throughout her life due to vitiligo—a skin pigmentation disorder that led others at the orphanage where she lived to label her as ”the devil’s child.” However, despite these hardships, she remained determined to pursue ballet after seeing an image of an American ballet dancer during Sierra Leone’s civil war.
Her family expressed their grief over losing such an extraordinary individual with a radiant smile that will be missed forever. They also mentioned that donations could be made in DePrince’s memory to War Child—an organization she was involved with as an ambassador—to support children affected by armed conflict.
Michaela Mabinty DePrince leaves behind five sisters and two brothers who will undoubtedly cherish memories of their shared experiences growing up together.
