Elaine & Michaela DePrince

We are heartbroken by the passing of Michaela Mabinity DePrince and Elaine DePrince. Their stories will forever remain with us in Taking Flight and Ballerina Dreams 🩷 Their family has asked us to share these statements. 

Elaine DePrince is the co-author along with her daughter, Michaela DePrince of Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina and Ballerina Dreams: From Orphan to Dancer (Random House/Knopf). A graduate of Rutgers University and former special education teacher, Elaine adopted six West African daughters.

Michaela DePrince was named the youngest principal dancer for the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and was a member of the Dutch National Ballet, and Boston Ballet. Her story as a war orphan was included in the documentary, “First Position”, and was told in full in memoir Taking Flight. Watch the book trailer, here and read the more in book discussion with the authors.

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