The world has lost one of its finest ballet powerhouses: Michaela DePrince, principal soloist at Boston Ballet, has twirled off the stage of life at the incredibly young age of 29. Talk about leaving too soon—this is like getting booted off a reality show in the first round, despite being the fan favorite!
Born in Sierra Leone in 1995, Michaela’s life wasn’t exactly a stroll through a dance studio. Her parents tragically passed during the civil war (seriously, life, can we not?), and she was adopted by an American family when she was just four. But fate had a trick up its sleeve. While most of us at that age were probably focused on learning how to eat without making a mess, Michaela stumbled upon a magazine featuring a ballerina. Little did she know, this glossy-page moment would set her on a path that would take her from orphanage floors to pirouetting on some of the world’s biggest stages.
On Friday, September 13 (because of course it had to be Friday the 13th), her family dropped the news that none of us wanted to hear: Michaela had danced her last dance. As of now, the cause of her sudden exit from the world remains a mystery—cue the suspenseful music.
Her team, likely holding back their own tears, said, “With heavy hearts, we announce the departure of our star ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince. She wasn’t just twirling her way into our hearts with pointe shoes, she was also inspiring the world with her strength and grace. I mean, she turned the whole ‘life gave me lemons’ situation into a whole lemonade empire. Her humanitarian work, her passion, and the fact that she overcame more challenges than a contestant on a survival show will continue to inspire us all. Michaela proved that even in the darkest of places, you could still do a flawless arabesque. Her time here was short, but man, did she make an impression! Like glitter—you know, the kind you can never quite get rid of. Our love and prayers go to her family, friends, and anyone who loved her. Which, let’s face it, is pretty much everyone.”
Michaela’s legacy is set to outlast all of us. The only thing we can do now is celebrate her life and attempt (unsuccessfully) to mimic her ballet moves without falling flat on our faces.
Sending our deepest thoughts, prayers, and some extra grace to Michaela’s loved ones during this tough time. Rest in peace, Michaela—may your pointe shoes always stay perfect, wherever you are.