Ballerina Michaela DePrince Dead at 29

The dance world is in mourning. 

Boston Ballet principal soloist Michaela Mabinty DePrince has died at the age of 29. The news of her death was confirmed by her official Instagram account Sept. 13, although no cause of death was shared.

"Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength," the statement read. "Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us."

They added, "Though her time with us was far too brief, her brilliance and legacy will continue to shine in the hearts of all who were touched by her story, for generations to come."

DePrince was born Mabinty in Sierra Leone in 1995, but was soon sent to an orphanage after both of her parents died during the country's 11-year civil war. At the age of 4, she was adopted by an American family, who spoke out to share their grief after the ballerina's passing.

"It is with profound sadness we announce the sudden passing of our beautiful sister, Michaela Mabinty DePrince," the DePrince family shared in a statement to Facebook. "Michaela touched so many lives across the world, including ours. She was an unforgettable inspiration to everyone who knew her or heard her story."

DePrince's sister, Mia Mabinty DePrince—with whom she was adopted from Sierra Leone as children—added her own reflections on her sister's death, writing, "I am truly in a state of shock and deep sadness. My beautiful sister is no longer here."

"She was an inspiration," she continued. "Whether she was leaping across the stage or getting on a plane and flying to third-world countries to provide orphans and children with dance classes, she was determined to conquer all her dreams in the arts and dance. Michaela (Mabinty) has left her footprints in the sand and on so many stages across the world. She will be truly missed. I love you, my beautiful Butterfly."

DePrince had been very candid about the difficulties of her early life growing up in an orphanage, sharing that it was there she discovered a discarded magazine which would ultimately lead her down the path to becoming a professional ballerina.

"There was a lady on it," she told the BBC in 2012 of the magazine, "she was on her tippy-toes, in this pink, beautiful tutu. I had never seen anything like this—a costume that stuck out with glitter on it, with just so much beauty. I could just see the beauty in that person and the hope and the love and just everything that I didn't have."

As she explained, she thought to herself, "‘Wow! This is what I want to be.'"

Once she and Mia were adopted by their family in New Jersey, her parents enrolled her at the Rock School of Dance in Philadelphia. She then studied at the American Ballet Theatre's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet before joining the Dance Theatre of Harlem in 2012. DePrince was also a dancer for the Dutch National Ballet, and in 2021 joined the Boston Ballet as a principal soloist.

The Boston Ballet posted their own statement honoring their soloist, writing on Instagram, "We're sending our love and support to the family of Michaela Mabinty DePrince at this time of loss."

"We were so fortunate to know Mabinty," the group added. "She was a beautiful person, a wonderful dancer, and she will be greatly missed by us all."

According to her family's statement, DePrince is survived by her sister Mia, as well as sisters Beelee, Jaye, Mariel and Amie, as well as her brothers Adam and Erik.