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michaela mabinty deprince (1995-2024)

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today, september 13th, 2024, the ballet world lost an extraordinary dancer and woman.

michaela mabinty deprince was born on january 6th, 1995, as mabinty bangura, in sierra-leone. she was orphaned, her parents passing to due to both direct and indirect causes of the civil war in her home country. she was demonized by her caretakers for her vitiligo, being called a “devil’s child”, and suffering from other forms of neglect and abuse. in 1999, deprince was adopted by an american couple along with another girl, and they were taken to new jersey, united states of america.

her hopes of becoming a ballerina had been planted when she found a ballerina on a magazine cover in her home country. she didn’t know of ballet at the time, but treasured the picture and dreamed of dancing. this dream blossomed into truth when she moved to the states, being put into ballet lessons soon after her arrival. deprince was a four-time participant in youth america grand prix, one of the largest ballet competitions in the united states. she was awarded a scholarship to study at the jaqueline kennedy onassis school of ballet, the associate school of american ballet theatre.

despite facing racial discrimination and other hardships in and out of the industry, deprince persisted in her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer. in 2012, at the age of 16, she became the youngest member of dance theatre of harlem, and the next year, she joined the junior company of the dutch national ballet. she soon rose through the ranks, joining the main company and attaining the rank of soloist. she was the first dancer of african origin to ever join the company, and a shining advocate and role model for black women in ballet.

her other accomplishments include being an ambassador for war child holland, a dutch organization working to improve the wellbeing and resilience of children directly affected by war. she visited uganda and lebanon through the organization. she also appeared in beyoncé’s 2016 music video for ‘freedom’.

she will dance among all the stars in the sky. rest in peace beautiful michaela mabinty, you are already so missed. ♡

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Michaela DePrince in Giselle (Dutch National Ballet, 2017)

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michaela deprince photographed performing as a wilis in giselle by marc haegeman

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all i could think about the entire time is how is she so pretty. her lines and her feet are to die for

BESTIES IM GONNA GET TO SEE THE YUAN YUAN TAN PERFORM BEFORE HER RETIREMENT

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she's coming she's coming she's coming !!

BESTIES IM GONNA GET TO SEE THE YUAN YUAN TAN PERFORM BEFORE HER RETIREMENT

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BESTIES IM GONNA GET TO SEE THE YUAN YUAN TAN PERFORM BEFORE HER RETIREMENT

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BESTIES IM GONNA GET TO SEE THE YUAN YUAN TAN PERFORM BEFORE HER RETIREMENT

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Tchaikovsky YES, Tchaikovsky ALWAYS YES

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ok but why do i have to practice. why cant it just be like. Good

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me: doesnt practice my piece for one (1) day

all my progress on the piece: evaporated. disappeared. gone with the wind ✨

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TUNER FRIEND IS BACK TO FIX MY PIANO ONCE AGAIN

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Got pronunciation confusion, pls help:

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the way "so there's this tHiNG that vocalists do that i absolutely hate. and its when they're ✨right✨" is the most relatable sentence ive ever heard and i have never stopped thinking about it since

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Sae Maeda as Clara in The Nutcracker (Royal Ballet 2022)

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i have polls. now if you will

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jonathan batista in costume as albrecht for giselle // dress rehearsal