Michaela Mabinty DePrince (born Mabinty Bangura, 1995-2024) is a Sierra Leonean-American ballet dancer. With her adoptive mother, Elaine DePrince, Michaela authored the book 'Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina'. She rose to fame after starring in the documentary First Position in 2011, following her and other young ballet dancers as they prepared to compete at the Youth America Grand Prix. She formerly danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem as the youngest dancer in the history of the company and currently dances as a soloist for the Dutch National Ballet. Since 2016 Michaela has been a goodwill ambassador with the Dutch organisation War Child, based in Amsterdam. DePrince passed away in New York City on September 10, 2024, at the age of 29. Her death was publicly announced three days later through her Instagram account and the Dutch National Opera's website. As of 23rd November 2024, the cause of her death remains undetermined.