PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Michaela DePrince, a trailblazing dancer who trained in Philadelphia, has died. She was 29. A spokesperson made the announcement on social media Friday, saying her “artistry touched countless hearts" and her "spirit inspired many.”
DePrince grew up an orphan in Sierra Leone, Africa. It was there that she saw an image of a ballerina that inspired her to dance.
She was mistreated and malnourished, and suffered from the skin disorder vitiligo. When she was 4 years old, DePrince was adopted by a couple from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Eventually, she attended the Rock School for Dance Education, a prestigious ballet school in South Philly on Broad Street and Washington Avenue.
Throughout her career, DePrince was met with racist doubts about the viability of a Black ballerina. But she persevered to become a soloist at the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam and the Boston Ballet. She also performed in Beyoncé's 2016 musical film "Lemonade."
At the age of 17, she was featured in a documentary film and performed on the TV series “Dancing With the Stars.” She graduated from high school and the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and worked at Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she was the youngest principal dancer in the theatre's history.
A dedicated humanitarian, DePrince advocated for children impacted by conflict as the ambassador for the charity War Child Holland.
The social media post said DePrince left “an indelible mark on the world of ballet, and beyond,” and that her life was “defined by grace, purpose, and strength.”
“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,” the post continued. “Love and prayers go to her chosen family, friends, and those who loved her.”
A cause of death has not yet been released.
Content sourced from our newsgathering partners at NBC10.