Michaela Mabinty DePrince, a gifted dancer who rose from an orphanage in Sierra Leone to become second soloist with the Boston Ballet, has died, according to a statement released Friday. on her Instagram page. DePrince was 29; the cause of death was not immediately clear.
DePrince, who lost her mother and father as a young child during the country’s civil war, told the Globe in 2021 that her path to becoming a ballerina began when she found an old copy of Dance Magazine at the orphanage gate.
“I liked what I saw, but the cover, the ballerina, just looked so beautiful and so elegant and so happy,” she told the Globe, adding that she kept the magazine “in a safe place just to remind myself of where I came from.”
DePrince was eventually adopted by a couple from New Jersey, where she studied ballet. In 2011, she appeared in Bess Kargman’s documentary “First Position,” about six dancers preparing for the Youth America Grand Prix. She later joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem before moving to the Dutch National Ballet, where she danced in “The Nutcracker” and Balanchine’s “Tarantella,” among others.
“What I liked about the Dance Theatre of Harlem was that I saw dancers who looked like me,” she told the Globe. “But my goal was to make people realize that no matter what color you are, you can be in a classical company.”
The news of DePrince’s death caused great sadness in the dance community.
“Her life was one of grace, determination and strength,” her team posted on her Instagram page. “She was a beacon of hope for many, showing that despite all obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from even the darkest places.”
The Dance Theatre of Harlem tweeted: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Michaela Mabinty DePrince. DePrince began her professional ballet career at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and made history as the youngest dancer to perform in leading roles.”
DePrince suffered from vitiligo, a disease that causes skin cells to lose their color. She is also the author of the memoir “Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina,” which Madonna is reportedly planning to make into a movie.
She also appeared in Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” and in an updated film version of the 19th-century comic ballet “Coppelia.”
According to a spokeswoman, she joined Boston Ballet as a second soloist in 2021 and remained a member of the company until her retirement in May of this year.
“We send our love and support to the family of Michaela Mabinty DePrince during this time of loss,” the Boston Ballet wrote on Instagram. “We were so lucky to know Mabinty; she was a wonderful person, a wonderful dancer, and we will all miss her very much.”
Malcolm Gay can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @malcolmgay.
