Michaela DePrince: From Orphan to Ballerina

Michaela DePrince's life is a testament to the power of hope and the human spirit. Born in Sierra Leone during the country's brutal civil war, she was orphaned at the age of three and spent the next four years living in an orphanage.
: DePrince's life changed forever when she was adopted by Elaine DePrince, an American woman who had seen her story on television and was moved by her plight. Elaine brought Michaela to the United States, where she began taking ballet classes.
: DePrince's natural talent and determination quickly became evident, and she soon began training at some of the world's most prestigious ballet schools, including the American Ballet Theatre and the Paris Opera Ballet. In 2012, she joined the Boston Ballet, where she quickly rose through the ranks to become a soloist.