Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, an inspirational and pioneering figure in the dance world, has died at age 29 of undisclosed causes.
Her death was announced via her by a spokesperson on Friday. 鈥淗er unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us,鈥� read the caption.
Her siblings also released , noting her influence as a dancer: 鈥淗er passion and impact on the dance world, especially in inspiring young Black dancers to pursue their dreams, has been tremendous.鈥�
DePrince, born Mabinty Bangura in Sierra Leone, lost both her parents as a toddler during the country鈥檚 civil war. Her passion for dance began early. In her memoir, Taking Flight, she writes that she danced in her "bare toes in the mud" during the rainy season.
During her time at an orphanage, she remembered being called 鈥渢he devil鈥檚 child鈥� because of vitiligo, a condition that left patches of her skin without pigmentation, . At age four, an American family adopted her and she moved to New Jersey, where she started taking ballet lessons.
From a young age, she captivated audiences with her appearance in the ballet documentary, First Position. DePrince鈥檚 mother, Elaine DePrince, made most of her daughter鈥檚 costumes at that time, .
DePrince made her professional debut with the Joburg Ballet in South Africa and then became the youngest principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. In 2021, she joined Boston Ballet as a second soloist. She appeared on the TV show Dancing With The Stars and performed in Beyonc茅's music video album, . DePrince was also an ambassador of War Child, a nonprofit that helps children living in war-affected countries.
In , ballet dancer Misty Copeland remembers DePrince as 鈥渁 prodigious talent鈥� who remained determined even when told 鈥� 鈥榯he world wasn鈥檛 ready for Black ballerinas鈥� or that 鈥楤lack ballerinas weren鈥檛 worth investing money in.鈥� 鈥�
In the statement announcing her death, DePrince is described as 鈥渁 beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from the darkest of places.鈥�
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