Sierra Leonean ballerina Michaela DePrince, 17, one of the ballet world's rising stars. The teenage dancer made her professional debut last month in South Africa.
Michaela DePrince —
Sierra Leonean ballerina Michaela DePrince, 17, one of the ballet world's rising stars. The teenage dancer made her professional debut last month in South Africa.
CNN
DePrince escaped the horror of war in her homecountry at the age of four when she was adopted by an American couple and started a new life in the United States.
Saved from war —
DePrince escaped the horror of war in her homecountry at the age of four when she was adopted by an American couple and started a new life in the United States.
CNN
Three years ago, DePrince participated in the youth America Grand Prix, the biggest ballet competition in the world, where she won a scholarship. She also became the subject of "First Position," an award-winning documentary about the competitive contest.
Michaela DePrince —
Three years ago, DePrince participated in the youth America Grand Prix, the biggest ballet competition in the world, where she won a scholarship. She also became the subject of "First Position," an award-winning documentary about the competitive contest.
CNN
The young ballerina says she has had to work even harder to get accepted as a black dancer into the rarefied world of ballet. "I'm still trying to change the way people see black dancers that we can become delicate dancers, that we can be a ballerina," she says.
Michaela DePrince —
The young ballerina says she has had to work even harder to get accepted as a black dancer into the rarefied world of ballet. "I'm still trying to change the way people see black dancers that we can become delicate dancers, that we can be a ballerina," she says.
CNN
DePrince, who suffers from the skin condition vitiligo, says she hopes to open an art school in Sierra Leone and give the country's youth the opportunity to chase their dreams.
Michaela DePrince —
DePrince, who suffers from the skin condition vitiligo, says she hopes to open an art school in Sierra Leone and give the country's youth the opportunity to chase their dreams.
CNN