Dance pioneer Michaela DePrince passes away at age 29.
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In 2017, Michaela DePrince joined the English National Ballet to perform Giselle. At the age of 29, ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, who shared the stage with Beyoncé and was widely regarded as a trailblazer, passed away.
Her family claimed in a statement that she was a "remarkable inspiration for all who knew her or heard her journey" and that a representative had announced her passing on her own Instagram profile.
It is unknown what caused the death. From struggling as an orphan in war-torn Sierra Leone, DePrince underwent an incredible journey that culminated in multiple accolades in the realm of international dance.
Her relatives described her passing as "sudden" and stated, "Michaela affected so many lives around the world, especially ours." Mia Mabinty DePrince, DePrince's sister, expressed her shock and extreme regret at her sister's passing, saying, "My beautiful sister is no longer here."
Numerous people in the ballet community have also left tributes. American ballerina Misty Copeland posted on social media, saying, "She stayed driven, laser-focused, and began making significant steps, while being told the 'globe wasn't prepared to welcome black ballerinas' or that 'black ballerinas weren't worthy of investing in."
DePrince was born in Kenema, Sierra Leone, in 1995. Both of her parents passed away during the civil war, and at the young age of three, she was placed in an orphanage. She has previously discussed how, due to her vitiligo, a disorder that causes patches of skin to lose color, she was viewed as a "devil's child" in the orphanage. However, she went to New Jersey after being adopted at the age of four by an American couple. Her foster mother registered her in classes as soon as she became fixated on ballet.
Following her high school graduation, she became well-known and created history by becoming the Dance Theatre of Harlem's youngest principal dancer. Throughout the world, DePrince has given performances, such as one in Beyoncé's "Lemonade" music video album. She debuted on the television program Dancing with the Stars at the age of seventeen and joined the esteemed Boston Ballet in 2021 as a second soloist. DePrince was a committed humanitarian who supported kids impacted by violence and strife.
Her representative stated that her spirit had "motivated many, leaving a lasting impression on the field of ballet, and beyond," and that her artistic ability had "touched innumerable hearts." They continued, saying, "Her life was characterized by strength, grace, and purpose. Her humanitarian endeavors, her unshakable dedication to her craft, and her bravery in facing insurmountable obstacles will always serve as sources of inspiration for us."For numerous individuals, she served as a ray of hope, demonstrating that despite all challenges, magnificence and grandeur can emerge from the most desolate locations." "From the initial stages of our journey back in Africa, falling asleep on a shared blanket in the orphanage, Michaela (Mabinty) and I used to make together our own musical-theater plays and play them out," Mia stated in her statement.
When the two were younger, according to DePrince's sister, "she would create, and I was the musician and director" of their own ballets. She "made her mark in the sand and on countless stages all over the world." Mia continued, "She will be sincerely missed. Elaine DePrince, an American, fostered the two girls who were mat-mates at the institution. DePrince's siblings, Eric and Mia, stated in a conversation with the media Newshour that the entire family was mourning the deaths of their mother Elaine and sister Michaela this week.
The news concerning my sister didn't seem plausible, and I had just finished speaking with my mother's doctor about it. As Mia explained to the MEDIA "I usually pick up the phone to call my mum with everything, so it dawned to me that I was unable to reach her." "It was extremely hard to hear." When DePrince was five years old, Elaine enrolled him at the Rock School of Dancing in Philadelphia, a 45-minute drive away from New Jersey, each day.
Her siblings claim they intend to carry on DePrince's legacy. DePrince served as an ambassador for the nonprofit organization War Child. Eric DePrince, her brother, told the media that he hoped his sister will be remembered as someone who put a lot of effort into making other people's lives better.
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