Photo: RealTVfilms / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Michaela DePrince's story stops me cold every time. Born amid civil war in Sierra Leone, orphaned, and labeled a cursed child, she willed her way to the Boston Ballet, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the Dutch National Ballet. What moves me is not just the technical brilliance but the sheer refusal to accept the fate she was handed. Her death at twenty-nine in 2024 felt cruelly early, yet she had already become a beacon for countless young dancers who never saw themselves on those stages. I think she rewrote what was possible, and that legacy outlives her.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Michaela DePrince
- Name (Japanese)
- ミケーラ・デプリンス
- Reading
- みけーら・でぷりんす
- Born
- January 6, 1995 – September 10, 2024
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Boar
- Origin
- Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- ballet dancer / autobiographer / actor / dancer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Keystone National High School
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 2017 OkayAfrica 100 Women
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Michaela DePrince born?
January 6, 1995 – September 10, 2024.
Where is Michaela DePrince from?
Michaela DePrince is from Kenema, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone.
What does Michaela DePrince do?
Michaela DePrince works as ballet dancer, autobiographer, actor, dancer.
Ballet dancer — see all → · Autobiographer — see all → · More people from Sierra Leone →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.