DePrince was a dancer with the Boston Ballet. Photograph: Jordi Matas/The Guardian
Michaela Mabinty DePrince, a world-renowned ballerina who overcame unimaginable odds, has tragically passed away at the age of 29. Her death was confirmed on Friday, September 13, 2024, via an emotional statement on her official Instagram page. While the cause of her death has not yet been disclosed, the impact of her life and career has left an indelible mark on the world of dance and beyond.
Born in war-torn Sierra Leone as Mabinty Bangura, DePrince faced a life filled with hardship from a young age. Orphaned at just three years old during her country’s brutal civil war, she found herself in an orphanage where she experienced extreme neglect and discrimination due to her vitiligo, a skin condition that causes patches of skin to lose pigment. Despite these early struggles, her life took a transformative turn when she was adopted by a loving American family at the age of four.
Her adoptive sister, Mia DePrince, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media. She recalled their early days in Africa, where the two would create their own ballet performances, despite the grim surroundings of the orphanage. Mia wrote, “We created our own ballets… and with the love and support of our parents, my sister became the strong, graceful ballerina that so many admired.”
DePrince’s journey to the world stage was one of remarkable perseverance. Her passion for ballet was sparked at a young age after seeing a picture of a ballerina in a magazine. However, her path to becoming a professional dancer was not easy. At eight years old, she was told that America was not ready for a Black ballerina. These words, combined with similar prejudices she faced throughout her early ballet training, could have easily discouraged her. But instead, DePrince used these challenges as fuel to push herself even harder.
She trained at prestigious institutions, including the Rock School for Dance Education, and gained widespread attention after being featured in the 2011 documentary First Position, which follows young dancers competing in the Youth America Grand Prix. DePrince’s talent, determination, and grace captivated audiences worldwide, leading to opportunities to study with American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and a stint at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she became the youngest principal dancer in the company’s history.
In 2021, she joined the Boston Ballet as a second soloist, further solidifying her place as a trailblazer in the ballet world. DePrince was not just a ballerina but also a symbol of hope and resilience. Her career was marked by not only technical brilliance but also by her commitment to promoting diversity in ballet. She was outspoken about the lack of representation of Black dancers in classical ballet, advocating for greater inclusion and encouraging the next generation of dancers to break through barriers.
DePrince’s star also extended beyond the world of ballet. In 2016, she appeared in Beyoncé’s Lemonade visual album, dancing in a striking scene while dressed in a traditional tutu. This moment brought her into the mainstream spotlight and helped further her mission to inspire people from all walks of life, showing that ballet could indeed be a place for everyone.
Despite her international fame and numerous accolades, DePrince never forgot her roots. Throughout her life, she expressed a desire to give back to Sierra Leone, particularly through the arts. In 2015, she spoke about her dream of opening a dance school in her birth country. “The arts can change you as a person. Dancing helped me share my emotions and connect to my family – it helped me feel like I was special,” she told The Guardian. She had hoped to use proceeds from her memoir, Taking Flight, to fund the creation of the school.
Her humanitarian efforts did not stop there. DePrince was a staunch supporter of War Child, an organization that provides assistance to children affected by conflict. In their statement, her family encouraged donations to the organization in lieu of flowers, stating, “This work meant the world to her, and your donations will directly help other children who grew up in an environment of armed conflict.”
DePrince’s passing has left a profound void in the world of dance, but her legacy of resilience, talent, and compassion will live on. Her story continues to inspire countless individuals, proving that beauty, grace, and greatness can rise even from the darkest of circumstances.
As tributes pour in from across the globe, DePrince’s life reminds us that the obstacles we face do not define us, but rather, how we rise above them does.
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