Michaela Mabinty DePrince, the Sierra Leone-born ballerina who rose from an orphanage in a war-torn country to international stardom, has passed away at the age of 29.
Her family confirmed her death in a statement released Friday, noting her profound influence on the world of ballet and beyond.
“Michaela touched so many lives across the world, including ours. She was an unforgettable inspiration to everyone who knew her or heard her story,” the family wrote.
They reflected on her extraordinary journey “from her early life in war-torn Africa, to stages and screens across the world.”
No cause of death was provided.
DePrince’s remarkable story of resilience began in Sierra Leone, where she was orphaned and faced discrimination in an orphanage due to vitiligo, a skin pigmentation disorder.
She was referred to as “the devil’s child” because of her condition and ranked as the orphanage’s least favored child.
However, a photograph of an American ballerina that had blown against the orphanage gate sparked her dream of becoming a dancer.
Adopted by an American couple, DePrince pursued her passion and achieved success as a dancer by age 17, performing on “Dancing With the Stars” and appearing in the documentary First Position. After training at the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, DePrince joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem and later became a principal dancer for the Dutch National Ballet before joining the Boston Ballet in 2021.
“Michaela was a beautiful person and a wonderful dancer, and she will be greatly missed by us all,” the Boston Ballet said in a statement.
DePrince’s memoir, Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina, detailed her inspiring rise from adversity to the global stage. She also wrote a children’s book, Ballerina Dreams, and served as an ambassador for War Child, an organization dedicated to supporting children affected by war.
DePrince’s passion for dance, especially as a role model for young Black dancers, inspired many. Her family stated:
“We will miss her and her gorgeous smile forever, and we know you will too.”
Her sister, Mia Mabinty DePrince, reflected on their shared experiences in the orphanage, where they dreamed of becoming artists:
“She was determined to conquer all her dreams in the arts and dance.”
DePrince is survived by five sisters and two brothers. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to War Child, an organization that was dear to Michaela’s heart.
For more on Michaela Mabinty DePrince’s life and legacy, visit Boston Ballet or War Child.
