Just one day after the tragic passing of Boston Ballet principal soloist Michaela Mabinty DePrince at the age of 29, her adoptive mother, Elaine DePrince, also passed away from an unrelated illness.
Elaine DePrince, Michaela’s beloved adoptive mother, died on September 11 following complications during a routine procedure ahead of surgery, as confirmed by family spokesperson Jess Volinski. Michaela's death, which occurred on September 10, was announced later in the week via Instagram.
In a heartfelt statement shared on Facebook, Volinski revealed the family's additional grief, writing, "The past few days have been more painful than most people can imagine because the family has also been mourning the death of Michaela's adoptive mother, Elaine DePrince."
The post also expressed gratitude for the immense support received after Michaela’s passing before sharing the difficult news of Elaine’s untimely death. "Her mother, Elaine, passed away during a routine procedure on September 11. Tragically, Michaela passed away before Elaine, and Elaine was unaware of Michaela's death at the time of her procedure."
The family emphasized that the two deaths were entirely unrelated, noting the extraordinary circumstances in which both mother and daughter passed away within such a short time frame. "As hard as it is to believe, the two deaths were completely unrelated. In a way, perhaps by God’s grace, Elaine—who had already endured the loss of three children many years ago—was spared the immense pain of losing a fourth," the statement continued.
The DePrince family has asked for privacy during this incredibly painful time as they process the profound loss of both Michaela and Elaine.
Michaela DePrince’s death was publicly announced on September 13 in an Instagram post. The ballet star was just 29 years old, and while a cause of death has not yet been disclosed, Michaela had always been open about her passion for ballet, frequently sharing her performances and experiences on social media.
Michaela was born in Sierra Leone during the country’s brutal civil war. Originally named Mabinty Bangura, she tragically lost both of her parents at a young age and was sent to an orphanage. Elaine DePrince had initially planned to adopt one of Michaela’s friends from Africa but was given a surprising choice when she was contacted by the adoption agency.
“I got a call from the adoption agency,” Elaine recounted in an interview with NBC News in 2017. “They asked, ‘Which Mabinty are you adopting? We have two of them.’”
Michaela, who had vitiligo, had been rejected by 12 families before Elaine learned of her. Moved by Michaela's situation, Elaine decided to adopt both girls. Elaine described meeting Michaela for the first time, saying, “She was standing there with her arms folded, looking angry. I think she expected more rejection.”
Michaela recalled the life-changing moment when Elaine approached her and her friend, saying, “I see her walking towards us, and then she takes our hands and says, ‘I’m your new mama.’” Both girls were renamed, with Mabinty Bangura becoming Michaela and her friend becoming Mia.
From there, Michaela’s incredible journey in ballet began. She had been captivated by ballet since she was a young girl, and her dream of becoming a professional dancer soon became reality. At the age of 17, Michaela became the youngest ballerina at the prestigious Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City. She later joined the Dutch National Ballet and went on to become a principal soloist at Boston Ballet, cementing her legacy as a rising star in the world of dance.
The loss of both Michaela and Elaine DePrince within such a short period has sent waves of sorrow throughout the ballet community and beyond. Their bond, love, and shared resilience will forever be remembered.