Sierra Leonean-American ballet dancer Michaela Mabinty DePrince has died, according to a statement from her management. She was 29.
DePrince’s death was reported on Friday, September 13th, 2024 via a statement from her official Instagram account. A cause of death was not revealed.
“With pain in our hearts, we share the loss of star ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, whose artistry touched countless hearts and whose spirit inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet, and beyond,” the statement shared on her IG page read.
The statement described DePrince as someone who led a life defined by ‘grace, purpose, and strength’. It praised her ‘unwavering commitment to art’ and her humanitarian efforts.
Who is Michaela DePrince?
After becoming an oprhan at a very early age, Michaela DePrince born Mabinty Bangura was adopted by an American couple, Elaine and Charles DePrince, taking her from war-torn Sierra Leone to Cherry Hill, New Jersey. DePrince lost her parents when her father killed by rebels and her mother died of fever and starvation. Michaela had vitiligo as a child.
READ ALSO: Dalton Weise, Death of Young Bullrider Sparks Teary Tributes
She started as a ballerina after being inspired by a magazine cover she found as a child in Sierra Leone. Once in America, her parents quickly realized her talent for ballet and enrolled her in classes. She attended the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia. She shot to fame after being featured in the ballet documentary, First Position.
DePrince received a scholarship to study at the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet for her performance at the Youth America Grand Prix. At the time of her death, she danced with the Boston Ballet. De Prince formerly danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and was the youngest dancer in the history of the company aged 17. She also appeared on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.
Her death sparked numerous tributes from stunned people around the world.
“I am shocked and saddened to learn that the great ballet dancer Michaela DePrince has died. I don’t know the cause. She survived orphanhood in war-torn Sierra Leone and triumphed as an international ballet dancer. I saw her in ballet class a few times back in the day,” said WaPo columnist Benjamin Ryan.
I am shocked and saddened to learn that the great ballet dancer Michaela DePrince has died. I don’t know the cause. She survived orphanhood in war-torn Sierra Leone and triumphed as an international ballet dancer. I saw her in ballet class a few times back in the day. pic.twitter.com/bNFQImnIWd
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) September 13, 2024
Did Michaela DePrince have a husband?
Michaela DePrince was not married. She was reported to be in a relationship with ballet dancer Skyler Maxey-Wert in 2015, and she also talked about him in her book. It’s not clear if the duo remain together to this day.
Born in Lancaster, Pennsyvania, Skyler Maxey-Wert is an American ballet dancer and singer/songwriter. He began studying dance aged 5 at the Lancaster school of ballet. He has performed in The Nutcracker with Lancaster School of Ballet/The Donetsk Ballet, the Danbury Music Center, and ABT. He has also performed in Daniel Ulbricht’s Dancing Against Cancer Gala, and Nicole Javanna Johnson’s Grant’s Safari.
In July 2013, Michaela DePrince and Skyler Maxey-Wert visited Irene Diamond Summer Institute where they performed and held a QnA for students.