You know Michaela DePrince’s story by now. The Dutch National Ballet soloist was orphaned in war-torn Sierra Leone, adopted by an American family and subsequently became a near-household name in the ballet world, eventually joining Dance Theatre of Harlem and then DNB. Since then, she’s written a memoir, acted as an ambassador for War Child […]

Ever since we heard that Michaela DePrince‘s memoir, Taking Flight, was going to be a movie, we’ve been on the edge of our seats waiting for more info. Almost three years later, it’s been worth the wait—we just learned that the Queen of Pop herself will be directing DePrince’s biopic. “Michaela’s journey resonated with me […]

We know Michaela DePrince‘s inspiring story of going from war-torn Sierra Leone to international ballet star. But now she’s giving us even more insight into her life as a dancer with Dutch National Ballet with a new vlog series that covers everything from her recent injury to her globetrotting lifestyle. Here’s why we’re loving it: […]

Throughout the summer, we’ve been noticing beachside views and scenic waterfalls sprinkled in with all of the usual rehearsal and performance posts we see from ballet’s biggest stars. But even while enjoying some sun and relaxation, dancers like Sara Mearns and Michaela DePrince prove that they never really take a break from ballet. Ahead, check […]

Michaela DePrince is having one spectacular year. On New Year’s Day, the Dutch National Ballet dancer was promoted to soloist. And yesterday, she scored a major endorsement as a face of Jockey’s “Show ‘Em What’s Underneath” campaign. We’ve said it before: There’s a right way and a wrong way to feature dancers in mainstream media. […]

Fog envelops you as swans and sylphs flash right past your shoulder. This is Peter Leung’s Night Fall, a new virtual reality 360 dance film featuring Dutch National Ballet. It puts you inside the “white acts” the film portrays as though you were a member of the corps. Over the past year, ballet companies and […]

Michaela DePrince has defied the odds again and again. She overcame incredible circumstances, rising from an orphanage in war-torn Sierra Leone to join Dutch National Ballet, where she was recently promoted to grand sujet (demi-soloist). With principal roles and book deals under her belt, DePrince is still doing the impossible—managing her schedule as a college […]