A day after trail-blazing ballerina dies at 29, her mother dies too

The family of Michaela Mabinty DePrince, a groundbreaking ballerina, is grieving after two heartbreaking losses. The Boston Ballet soloist and her adoptive mother, Elaine, passed away just one day apart.

Born in Sierra Leone, DePrince was adopted by Elaine in 1999 after losing both of her parents at age three during the country’s civil war. Despite facing doubts from some teachers about a Black girl becoming a professional ballet dancer, DePrince shattered expectations, rising to the position of principal dancer at just 17 with the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

She later performed with the Dutch National Ballet and the Boston Ballet. Beyond the stage, DePrince appeared on Dancing with the Stars and featured in Beyoncé’s Lemonade. According to the New York Times, her name is frequently mentioned alongside Misty Copeland’s when discussing prominent Black ballerinas.

Tragically, DePrince's life was cut short when she passed away on September 10 at the age of 29. Her death was announced three days later on her Instagram page, though no cause was given.

“Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength,” a memorial post on her Instagram read. “Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us.”

Just a day after DePrince’s passing, her mother Elaine also died. According to family spokesperson Jess Volinski, the two deaths are unrelated. Elaine passed away “during a routine procedure in preparation for surgery” on September 11. In a bittersweet turn of events, Elaine was unaware of Michaela’s passing at the time of her own procedure.

“The only way we can make sense of the senseless is that Elaine, who had already lost three children many years ago, was spared the pain of losing a fourth by the grace of God,” Volinski shared.

The family has requested privacy as they navigate these twin tragedies.

Volinski added, “What the family is going through right now is unimaginably painful. Grieving two family members within 24 hours is devastating.”

Elaine’s death followed a period of declining health due to congenital heart failure, as reported by the Times. She had previously lost three adopted sons who all suffered from hemophilia and passed away due to complications from HIV. Elaine had felt it was her duty to adopt the boys, despite their medical issues deterring other prospective parents.

Michaela DePrince, born Mabinty Bangura, was adopted from an orphanage in Ghana, where she and another girl named Mabinty were later renamed Michaela and Mia, respectively. At the orphanage, DePrince endured mistreatment and malnourishment due to her skin condition, vitiligo, which led to her being labeled “the devil’s child.”

“I lost both my parents, so I was there [in the orphanage] for about a year, and I wasn’t treated very well because I had vitiligo,” DePrince told the Associated Press in 2012. She was given the lowest ranking and received the least food and clothing.

Her love for ballet began after a magazine page featuring an American ballet dancer blew against the orphanage gate during Sierra Leone’s civil war. “All I remember is she looked really, really happy,” DePrince said. Inspired by the image, she dreamed of becoming a dancer and kept the page hidden in her underwear.

Following DePrince’s passing, her sister Mia reflected on their shared journey: “From the very beginning of our story back in Africa... Michaela (Mabinty) and I used to make up our own musical theater plays and act them out... Our parents quickly poured into our dreams and arose the beautiful, gracefully strong ballerina that so many of you knew her as today. She was an inspiration.”

In the U.S., Elaine promised Michaela ballet lessons once she learned English. Despite her talent being quickly recognized, DePrince faced racial barriers. At eight years old, she was told she couldn’t play the lead role in The Nutcracker because “America’s not ready for a Black girl ballerina.”

At age nine, a teacher told Elaine, “I don’t like to put money into Black dancers because they grow up and end up having big boobs and big hips.” These setbacks only fueled DePrince’s determination to succeed.

“I’ve been through so much, I know now that I can make it and help other kids... realize that they can make it too,” DePrince shared, crediting dance for helping her process the trauma of her early life.

DePrince is survived by five sisters and two brothers. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made to War Child, an organization she supported as an ambassador.

“This work meant the world to her, and your donations will directly help other children who grew up in an environment of armed conflict,” the family said in a statement.