The Ballerina Who Defied Adversity: Remembering Michaela DePrince's Life and Legacy

Michaela Mabinty DePrince's life was a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and determination. Born in war-torn Sierra Leone, she was an orphan who was adopted by an American couple and went on to become a principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Dutch National Ballet. Her journey was marked by challenges, including a skin pigmentation disorder that led to her being labeled "the devil's child" at the orphanage. But DePrince refused to let her circumstances define her. Instead, she drew inspiration from a photo of an American ballet dancer that she ripped from a magazine page and kept close to her heart. As she grew older, DePrince's passion for dance only intensified. She graduated from the American Ballet Theatre's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and went on to perform on "Dancing With the Stars" and in numerous ballet productions. Her memoir, "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina," and children's book, "Ballerina Dreams," shared her remarkable story with the world. DePrince's impact extended beyond the stage, as she used her platform to inspire young Black dancers to pursue their dreams. But what if we assume that DePrince's success was solely the result of her talent and hard work? What if we overlook the systemic barriers and biases that she faced as a Black woman in the ballet world? What if we forget that her journey was not without its challenges, including the skin pigmentation disorder that left her feeling marginalized and isolated?