TAKING FLIGHT From war orphan to star ballerina Michaela
Deprince
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IT WAS HOPE THAT MADE ME DARE TO DREAM, AND IT WAS HOPE THAT
HELPED THAT DREAM TAKE FLIGHT. (243) Author, Michaela Deprince,
tells of her inspiring and struggling life story. From a war orphan
in Sierra Leone; through finding her love and passion with the art
of ballet. Deprinces story is filled with triumph and failure,
dealing with racist prejudice within the world of dance and her new
familys everyday life. Michaela Deprince sets out against the big
bad world with no fear and an abundance of courage, determined to
defy all the odds and do what she loves.
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DEVIL CHILD Who will want to marry a girl that looks like the
beast of the jungle?
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Born in war-torn Sierra Leone, Africa, Michaela Deprince lost
both her parents to disease and murder before the age of 3. No
longer under the protection of her parents, she was tossed around
to other extended family members that were not as caring as her
parents. After much abuse from her uncles family Deprince was
finally put in an orphanage; with new hopes of adoption and a
better life. However, this spark of hope would soon be diminished.
With a rare skin disease called vitiligo. Causing portions of her
skin to lose pigment, poor little Michaela looked nothing like the
girls and boys her age. Retrieving the nickname devil child, the
mental and physical abuse would be nowhere near done once in the
orphanage. Convinced she would never be adopted, scared of the
abusive adults in charge of her and missing her murdered parents;
Michaela Deprinces future was not looking bright. Hush, hush, the
girl beside me Whispered. If you awaken Auntie Fatmata with your
crying tonight, she Will beat you with her willow switch (27)
(Michaela Deprince is the name she got once moved to the United
States, back in Africa she was called Mabinity Bangura)
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VITILIGO Chronic skin disease Portions of skin loses pigment
Less than 1% chance of inheriting it Causes unknown
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THE WOMAN SMILED AT US. SHE CAME UP TO US AND PATTED OUR BACKS.
IM YOUR NEW MAMA, SHE SAID TO BOTH OF US. YOURE GOING TO BE
SISTERS. After years of abuse, fear, disease, death and violence,
Michaela Deprince would finally be adopted by Elaine Deprince along
with her closest friend at the orphanage, Mabinity Suma.
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WE DONT LIKE TO WASTE A LOT OF TIME, MONEY, AND EFFORT ON THE
BLACK GIRLS. WHEN THEY REACH PUBERTY, THEY DEVELOP BIG THIGHS AND
BEHINDS AND CANT DANCE BALLET ANYMORE. I OVERHEARD THE REMARK, BUT
I WASNT SUPPOSED TO BE OUTSIDE THE DOOR LISTENING IN. (124) Once
Michaela and Mabinity were adopted, they were quickly enrolled in
ballet classes by the age of 5. Michaela was immediately in love
with the sport. Excelling faster than her sister and most of her
classmates, Michaela had a natural talent for the art of ballet.
However, despite her gift she faced years and years of racial
prejudice and reject because of the color of her skin and her skin
disease. Deprince soon started to notice the lack of African
American dancers in the ballet world, and started to worry if the
color and pigment of her skin would be the only thing standing
between her lifelong dream and passion. I won the Hope Award in
Philadelphia that year. It was the top honor for dancers in my age
division. (169)
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Despite the countless hardships Michaela Deprince faced
throughout her life, she still pushed on. Never giving up, and the
effort and courage finally paid off Victory would finally come for
Michaela, touring with the Nutcracker at age 13, receiving a full
ride scholarship to The American Ballet Theatres summer intensive
training program at age 14, and starring in The ballet film First
Position in 2009. Dancing with many prestigous ballet companies
since, like the Joburg Ballet in South Africa and Dance Theatre of
Harlem Main Company. Now Michaela Deprince dances with the Dutch
National Ballet Main Company.
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Michaela Deprince is an inspiration for young girls, white or
black, dancer or soccer player, young or old. Her determination and
strive for a dream so passionate is truly inspiring; her book
Taking Flight is a read you dont want to miss.
Slide 11
Deprince, Michaela. "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star
Ballerina by Michaela DePrince and Elaine DePrince."
Randomhouse.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.