What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Michaela Mabinty DePrince, the Sierra Leonean-born ballerina who danced with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dutch National Ballet and Boston Ballet, died in New York City on September 10, 2024. She was 29.
Her family representative, Jess Volinski, confirmed the death to The Washington Post and said that the cause was not immediately clear. The family did not provide a verified cause in the contemporary reports reviewed. DePrince’s adoptive mother, Elaine DePrince, died the following day, September 11. According to the family’s statement reported by The Washington Post, Elaine’s death occurred during a routine procedure in preparation for surgery and was unrelated to Michaela’s death.
Who was Michaela DePrince?
DePrince was an internationally recognized ballet dancer whose life crossed several worlds: war-affected childhood, transracial adoption, elite dance training, professional ballet, documentary film and humanitarian advocacy.
She was born Mabinty Bangura on January 6, 1995, in southeastern Sierra Leone. She was orphaned during Sierra Leone’s civil war and placed in an orphanage. Accounts from DePrince’s family and professional institutions describe how her vitiligo contributed to stigmatizing treatment there. She was reportedly called a “devil’s child” and, like other children in the orphanage, identified by a number rather than her name.
#1 Best Overall
- ⚠️ Size Tip (READ BEFORE ORDERING) ---For standard gel toe pads, choose one size up from the chart recommendation. Please choose by foot length first. US size and EU size are for reference only. (Size 13-2 are kids size.)
- √ Material and Design of Vamp --- Our vamp is made of high quality satin which is soft, comfortable and durable. Also our Mid-length Vamp with very sturdy wide box can provide very good support and protects the forefoot, it can reduce the probability of sole sprain. We send free toe pads and a storage bag, allow you to dance effortlessly.
- √ High Quality Sole --- The sole is made of multiple layers of cardboard and durable leather, sewed by double needle cord, tightly and neatly, with beautiful radian and medium hardness, so our pointe shoes are very comfortable, non-slip and resistant. Provide enough support for beginners and professional dancer.
- √ Inner Material and Toe Pads --- High-quality canvas insole is made of comfortable and breathable cotton, always keep dry. Toe pads can protect your feet from injury, they are made of soft silicone, it's very safe, no stimulate, no peculiar smell, flexible material can be easily stretched to fits most size foot.
- √ Ribbon and After Sale --- The sewed satin ribbon length 24 inches, can be adjusted tight or loose, bring the most comfortable tightness for the feet. The elestic rubber band on the vamp can be adjusted to keep the shoe close to your foot. If you are not satisfied with our shoes, please contact us immediately, we will deal with it properly.
A photograph of a ballerina standing en pointe became an important image for her. Later, after watching a recording of The Nutcracker, she developed a strong interest in ballet. Elaine and Charles DePrince adopted Michaela and another orphan, Mabinty—later known as Mia—in the United States. Michaela was about four years old when she was adopted and grew up in a large family in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Her early life and entry into ballet are explored at greater length in the memoir Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina, which she co-wrote with Elaine DePrince.
From ballet student to professional dancer
DePrince trained at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia and later at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of the American Ballet Theatre in New York.
She made her professional debut in 2012 in Le Corsaire in Johannesburg. That same year, she joined Dance Theatre of Harlem. The Washington Post described her as the company’s youngest dancer to star in principal roles, including the Black Swan in Swan Lake.
In August 2013, DePrince joined Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company. She entered the company’s main ensemble in 2014 and later became a soloist. The Dutch National Opera & Ballet memorial identifies her with productions including The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and George Balanchine’s Tarantella.
She subsequently danced with Boston Ballet, where she was identified as a second soloist from 2021 to 2024. Boston Ballet’s memorial biography lists repertoire including Coppélia, A Million Kisses to my Skin and Empire Noir, as well as her appearance as a guest artist in Giselle with English National Ballet.
Rank #2
- Premium Material and Durable Full Sole: Made with satin upper and Germany thick paper sole that is flexible and wear-resistant, printed with the unique logo of Wendywu
- Wide Size Range Available: Girls and womens all season pointe ballet shoes available in sizes US12C-US11
- Size Guide for Young Dancers: Size 12, size 12.5, and size 13 are specifically designed for little kids
- High Quality Construction: Ballet shoes feature pure high quality ribbon, providing enough support for beginners and professional dancers, suitable as a birthday gift or Christmas gift
- Care Instructions for Longevity: Pointe shoes are consumables and cannot be cleaned including dry cleaning and washing as they will shrink after touching water. A little stain can be wiped gently with a damp cloth without using excessive force
Reports differ on the timing of her move to Boston Ballet: Boston Ballet records her as a second soloist from 2021 to 2024, while the Dutch National Opera & Ballet memorial describes her move to Boston as occurring in 2022. The safest summary is that she danced with Boston Ballet as a second soloist during the 2021–2024 period. She should not be described as a Boston Ballet principal dancer.
Her screen career and First Position
DePrince became known to audiences beyond the ballet world through First Position, a documentary following young dancers competing in the Youth America Grand Prix. The film follows its participants over a year as they pursue opportunities in elite dance. The American Film Institute lists DePrince among the featured dancers, gives the film a U.S. release date of May 4, 2012, and lists its running time as 90 minutes.
First Position is particularly valuable as an early-career document: it shows DePrince as a young dancer before the later stages of her international professional career. Availability can vary by country and service, so viewers should check current local listings rather than assume a particular streaming platform carries it.
She also appeared in Beyoncé’s 2016 visual album film Lemonade, dancing to her own choreography in the sequence accompanying “Freedom.” This was a featured appearance and collaboration, not a claim that DePrince was the central subject of the film. Her other documented screen appearances included Dancing with the Stars and the 2021 ballet film Coppelia.
Representation in ballet
DePrince’s career carried significance beyond her individual performances. She became a prominent Black ballerina in a field with a long history of limited Black representation. In recollections reported by The Washington Post, she described being told that ballet was not ready for a Black girl ballerina and encountering discouragement connected to race and body type.
Those experiences should be understood as DePrince’s reported recollections rather than as a claim that every ballet school or company treated her in the same way. Her visibility nevertheless mattered to young dancers who had rarely seen someone who looked like them occupy prominent roles in classical ballet.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #3
- High Quality Sole：The sole is made of multiple layers of cardboard and durable leather, sewed by double needle cord, tightly and neatly, with beautiful radian and medium hardness, so our pointe shoes are very comfortable, non-slip and resistant. Provide enough support for beginners and professional dancer.
- Material and Design of Vamp： Our vamp is made of high quality satin which is soft, comfortable and durable. Also our Mid-length Vamp with very sturdy wide box can provide very good support and protects the forefoot, it can reduce the probability of sole sprain. We send free toe pads and a storage bag, allow you to dance effortlessly.
- Perfect Gift：Perfect ballet pointe shoes for dance training class and ballet performance, a great birthday gift & Christmas gift.Perfect for ballet, dance, ballroom, normal practice, class show, performance etc. A perfect birthday, back to school gift.
- Ribbon：The sewed satin ribbon length 24 inches, can be adjusted tight or loose, bring the most comfortable tightness for the feet. The elestic rubber band on the vamp can be adjusted to keep the shoe close to your foot.
- After Sale：If you are not satisfied with our shoes, please contact us immediately, we will deal with it properly.Please check the size chart picture before purchase, measure the length and width of your feet follow the tip on picture, (Please choose one size bigger because of the toe pads), thank you!
Her message, “Never be afraid to be a poppy in a field of daffodils,” became closely associated with her public legacy. The line expressed the ideas of difference, persistence and belonging that ran through her story.
Humanitarian work
DePrince also treated advocacy as part of her professional identity. In 2016, she became an ambassador for War Child Holland, working publicly on behalf of children affected by war.
The Dutch National Opera & Ballet said that her humanitarian motivation was rooted in her own childhood experience. War Child remembered her visits to Uganda, Lebanon and refugee shelters in the Netherlands, according to The Washington Post. Her advocacy connected the visibility she gained as a dancer with the needs of children living through conflict and displacement.
Readers who want to explore this part of her legacy can learn about organizations working with children affected by war; this is included as background on the cause she supported, not as a claim that a purchase or donation through this article benefits DePrince’s family.
Recommended Free Tools
What is known about her death?
DePrince died in New York City on September 10, 2024, at age 29. The family representative who confirmed the death said the cause was not immediately clear. The contemporary family and institutional notices cited here did not establish a medical cause.
Elaine DePrince died one day later, on September 11. Because the deaths occurred so close together, it is important to keep the two events distinct. The family said Elaine’s death was related to a routine procedure in preparation for surgery and that the two deaths were unrelated.
Rank #4
- Size Tip – For standard gel toe pads, choose one size up from the chart recommendation. New pointe shoes contain natural glue that makes the box (toe area) and shank (sole) hard. This tight feeling will decrease by 10–20% after proper breaking in.
- Premium Leather Outsole for Maximum Durability – 1.4mm full-grain cowhide outsole offers abrasion resistance and anti-slip grip. Ideal beginner pointe shoes for building strength, outlasting standard materials for intensive training. Available in classic pink ballet shoes.
- Reinforced Insole with Steel Paper Composite – Advanced steel paper insole delivers arch support and structural stability with firmness and flexibility. These ballet pointe shoes for girls reduce fatigue while allowing smooth roll-through movements.
- Premium High-Density Binding for Long-Lasting Wear – High-density fabric binding with tight stitching prevents fraying. Maintains shape through daily practice. Perfect for point shoes for woman professionals alike.
- Wide Elastic Heel Strap & Adjustable Drawstring – Widened elastic strap prevents heel slippage; adjustable drawstring fine-tunes instep fit. Anchors securely while wrapping to your foot shape for better response. Ideal for pointe shoes users seeking stability.
There is no responsible basis in the cited reporting to speculate about a medical condition, suicide, overdose, vaccination or any other explanation. Until an official family or medical statement provides further information, the accurate account is simply that Michaela DePrince died on September 10, 2024, and that the cause was not immediately disclosed.
How to learn more about Michaela DePrince
- Read: Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina, the 256-page memoir DePrince co-wrote with Elaine DePrince. Penguin Random House lists the Ember paperback as published January 19, 2016, ISBN 9780385755146, with the ebook edition published October 14, 2014. The publisher positions it for readers age 12 and older and grade 7 and above.
- Watch: First Position, the 2012 documentary featuring DePrince among young Youth America Grand Prix competitors. Check current availability in your territory before selecting a rental or streaming service.
- Follow the career record: The memorial pages from Dutch National Opera & Ballet and Boston Ballet provide institutional accounts of her companies, repertoire and professional legacy.
- Consider the cause she championed: DePrince’s War Child Holland ambassadorship offers a route for readers interested in humanitarian work supporting children affected by war.
DePrince’s story is not only one of survival or discovery. It is also the record of a dancer who built a substantial career, appeared before global audiences, advocated for children affected by war and made professional ballet more visible to people who had not often seen themselves represented on its stages.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFrequently Asked Questions
When did Michaela DePrince die?
Michaela DePrince died in New York City on September 10, 2024. She was 29.
What was Michaela DePrince’s position at Boston Ballet?
Boston Ballet identified DePrince as a second soloist from 2021 to 2024. She should not be described as a principal dancer at Boston Ballet.
What was the cause of Michaela DePrince’s death?
The cause was not immediately clear in the contemporary reporting reviewed. Her family and the cited institutional notices did not provide a verified medical cause, so speculation is unwarranted.
What documentary features Michaela DePrince?
She is one of the young dancers featured in First Position, a 2012 documentary about competitors in the Youth America Grand Prix.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11What book did Michaela DePrince write?
She co-wrote Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina with her adoptive mother, Elaine DePrince.
The Bottom Line
Michaela DePrince died at 29 after a career spanning Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dutch National Ballet and Boston Ballet, along with appearances in First Position and Beyoncé’s Lemonade. The cause of her death was not immediately disclosed. Her legacy rests not only in her performances, but also in her advocacy for children affected by war and her visibility as a Black ballerina.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
