Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, who came to the U.S. as a young orphan and later inspired the world with her grace and courage, has died on September 10, 2024.
The cause of her death has still not been disclosed, but it is clear that the dance world is mourning her and that DePrince had a profound effect on all she encountered.
“She was a talent, an artist, a ballerina,” Ashley Bouder posted on Instagram. “She was a humanitarian, an inspiration, a story to behold. I had the immense privilege of dancing beside her and coaching her.”
“From her powerful presence on stage to her genuine warmth offstage, Michaela embodied grace, resilience and boundless talent,” Jose Alves posted on Instagram. “Her story was one of overcoming the impossible, and her legacy will continue to inspire future generations.”
DePrince was adopted by a family in New Jersey, and her new parents quickly realized her strong interest in ballet and enrolled her in classes. She went on to graduate from the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, and began her professional career at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she made history as the youngest principal dancer.
She danced with the Dutch National Ballet before joining the Boston Ballet in 2021, and she also made appearances on Dancing with the Stars and in Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” music video.
After the news of the young dancer’s death was released, it has since become known that DePrince’s family is also mourning the death of her adoptive mother, Elaine, who passed away during a routine procedure in preparation for a surgery just a day after DePrince’s death. Elaine did not know the news of her daughter’s death, but the family is understandably going through a tremendously difficult time.
All of us at Dance Informa are praying for the DePrince family and sending our love and condolences. The world has lost astonishing women.
Image source: Michaela DePrince’s official Instagram
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