Like so many others, I am terribly sad to hear that Michaela DePrince has died at the much too young age of 29.

She was a survivor of war in Sierra Leone, an adoptee to the United States, and an astonishingly talented ballet dancer. She was a role model and trailblazer.

The cause of death has not been stated by her family at this point.

A 2019 interview with Paper magazine was titled “Michaela DePrince: The Dancer Destigmatizing Mental Health.” Michaela said, “Ballet is part of who I am. I grew up not feeling good enough and thinking that no one would ever love me enough to be adopted.” She jokes, “I literally chose an art form that foster the same sort of you’re not good enough environment.”

As someone involved with the dance and adoption communities, I found her words familiar, if not chilling.

She went on to talk about her hopes of becoming a human rights lawyer or building an arts school in Sierra Leone.

She also said this: “There’s definitely more to my story than what people talk about. When I’m performing or speaking, I only have a certain amount of time to express myself. I think people see and hear my story as a whole, but can’t really understand most aspects of it or see just how important adoption is.”

Adoption can be so complicated.

Michaela’s adoptive mother, Elaine DePrince, apparently also passed away this week. Incredible sorrow for that family. May they find comfort and healing.

May she rest in power and in peace. Deep condolences to her family, friends, and all those who admired and loved her, in the adoption world, the dance world, and all around the globe.