The talented and determined ballerina, Michaela Mabinty DePrince, opened the world to lives full of poise and tenacious spirit. She has left all of us far too soon at the tender age of 29 years. This is a huge loss to the world of ballet and to all those who have admired her passage from a war-torn orphanage to the global stage. Remembering DePrince needs to be done by reflection upon her incredible achievements with an inspiring legacy left behind.
She was born in Sierra Leone right at the middle of the civil war and thus had lots of hardship and loss in her early years. The experiences of poverty and displacement grew on her since childhood. Later, being orphaned and with further severe trauma, she got adopted along with her sister by an American family, after which this all turned out to be her life-changing moment toward an exceptional career in ballet.
She was one of those rare ones who had shown resilience since the beginning and a deep love for dancing. Considering all the hardships in life, all the physical and psychological scars, she plunged into the world of ballet with an unbridled passion. Her adoptive parents knew she had the potential and let her pursue the art form wholeheartedly.
Michaela’s rise in the world of ballet was nothing out of the ordinary: first, she had trained at the Rock School for Dance Education, then attended the prestigious American Ballet Theatre ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. Before long, her talent and hard work paid off-she was offered a spot in ABT’s Studio Company, and her career began to take flight.
The performances of DePrince were steeped in deep emotionalism, combined with technical brilliance. The portrayal of her roles showed an unusual interplay of frailty and strength that touched the cords of the people who watched her perform. Her most famous performances are leading in “Swan Lake,” “Giselle,” and “The Nutcracker.” Each one of these performances has given evidence of the incredible skill and artistry that she had to display. She could convey the most human emotions with her dance, which kept her audiences and critics spellbound with memories of every performance.
One of the greater impacts Michaela made in the world of ballet was breaking down barriers to a more diverse organization. She is an African American ballerina who extends herself outside of racial barriers and even challenges the notions of traditional beauty accepted in the performance of ballet. But having her on stage was about the talent, yes, but also about the statement of change and progress. This brought a big message to many young colored dancers that their dreams, too, were reachable since talent indeed knows no race, background, or circumstance.
Besides dancing, she was also recognized for her humbleness and kindness. She was committed to using her platform to advocate on behalf of those in need, never shying away from sharing her life experiences in bringing awareness about child poverty and the importance of education. But apart from all that-now part of so many charitable organizations-she shared her story and was able to be a role model for many, finally becoming an epitome of success, which is not about what one achieves in life but more about how much one is able to give back to society.
She did not stop there. She also wrote her book entitled “Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina,” chronicling her life in a rather up-close-and-personal type of way that inspired and gave hope to readers from around the world. The book received critical acclaim because of its candid and no-nonsense telling of her struggles and successes but had a strong message of resiliency and perseverance.
We remember more about Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince than being a great ballerina. She was an example of hope and strength to people who were struggling with their own fights in life. Most definitely, she will be remembered as an inspiration to dancers and all people from walks of life in generations to come.
Little Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince lived a life which many only get to dream of in their lifetime. She is a case example of how everything can happen, and where beauty, grace, and purpose are found, this little girl will grow up in unbelievable adversity. We bid adieu to an artist with whom one would never like to let go-a salute to the memory of this rare talent we pay our tribute and admiration, not only to a dancer who left her mark on every stage she danced upon, but also to the indomitable spirit.
Michaela lived and breathed proof that art can change someone and that the human spirit is unbreakable. Although she will be deeply missed, her legacy lives in the hearts of the many that she has touched and barriers torn down. We remember Michaela Mabinty DePrince; may her tremendous achievements always remain close to our hearts, her life an inspiration to us. Rest in peace, Michaela. In the hearts of those who were privileged enough to have been witness to one’s skill and talent, showing strength in spirit, one’s light never dims.
