Michaela Mabinty DePrince, the renowned ballerina who captivated audiences with her performances alongside Beyoncé and earned acclaim as a trailblazer in ballet, has passed away at the age of 29. A spokesperson for DePrince announced her death on her personal Instagram page, with her family describing her as an “unforgettable inspiration to everyone who knew her or heard her story.” The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
DePrince’s remarkable journey from being an orphan in war-torn Sierra Leone to achieving international fame in the dance world was a testament to her resilience and talent. Her family has reported that her death was “sudden,” expressing their deep sorrow: “Michaela touched so many lives across the world, including ours.”
Mia Mabinty DePrince, Michaela’s sister, expressed her profound grief, stating, “I am in a state of shock and deep sadness as my beautiful sister is no longer here.” Tributes have been pouring in from across the ballet community and beyond.
Born in Kenema, Sierra Leone, in 1995, DePrince was placed in an orphanage at the age of three following the deaths of her parents during the civil war. Despite facing adversity and being labeled a “devil’s child” due to her vitiligo, DePrince’s life took a transformative turn when she was adopted by an American couple at the age of four and moved to New Jersey. Her adoptive mother recognized her passion for ballet and enrolled her in dance classes, setting her on a path to stardom.
DePrince’s talent was undeniable; she became the youngest principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and performed in Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” music video album. In 2021, she joined the Boston Ballet as a second soloist and gained further recognition as a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars” at the age of 17.
Her contributions extended beyond dance as she was a dedicated humanitarian, advocating for children affected by conflict and violence. Her spokesperson highlighted that DePrince’s artistry “touched countless hearts” and described her life as one marked by “grace, purpose, and strength.” The spokesperson added, “Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us.”
Mia Mabinty DePrince reminisced about their childhood, saying, “From the very beginning of our story back in Africa, sleeping on a shared mat in the orphanage, Michaela (Mabinty) and I used to make up our own musical theatre plays and act them out.” She noted that they created their own ballets as children, with Michaela choreographing and Mia composing and conducting.
Elaine DePrince, the American woman who adopted Michaela and her sister, enrolled Michaela in the Rock School of Dance in Philadelphia, making the daily commute from New Jersey. Following Michaela’s death, Mia shared her difficulty in coping with the news, particularly since it came shortly after learning about their mother Elaine’s passing: “I had just gotten off the phone with my mum’s doctor with her news when I was alerted about my sister, it just didn’t seem believable.”
DePrince’s siblings, Eric and Mia, are committed to continuing her legacy. Eric expressed his hope that the world remembers Michaela as someone who “worked hard to improve the lives of others.” Ballerina Misty Copeland also paid tribute, stating, “Despite being told the ‘world wasn’t ready for black ballerinas’ or that ‘black ballerinas weren’t worth investing in,’ she remained determined, focused, and began making big strides.”
