Boston Ballet principal soloist Michaela Mabinty DePrince passed away at the age of 29, with her adoptive mother Elaine DePrince also passing away just one day later from an unrelated illness. Elaine passed away during a routine procedure before surgery, not knowing about Michaela’s death at the time. The family spokesperson, Jess Volinski, shared this news on Facebook, asking for privacy during their time of grieving.
Michaela DePrince had a difficult childhood in Sierra Leone during the civil war, losing her parents and being sent to an orphanage. Elaine DePrince adopted her and another child, Mia, after learning that Michaela had been rejected by 12 families due to her vitiligo. The two girls were renamed Michaela and Mia, and Michaela pursued her dream of becoming a professional ballerina.
Michaela achieved great success in the ballet world, becoming the youngest ballerina with the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City at 17, and later a principal soloist at the Boston Ballet. She was known for her love of ballet and had a successful career performing on many stages. Her passing was announced on Instagram, but no cause of death has been shared.
The family has asked for privacy as they mourn the loss of both Michaela and Elaine DePrince, whose deaths were completely unrelated. The DePrince family has faced tragedy in the past, with Elaine having lost three children years ago. Despite the heartbreak, they find comfort in the idea that Elaine was spared the pain of losing another child.
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