Merde, Michaela!

If you’ve seen First Position, the documentary about Youth America Grand Prix by Bess Kargman, Michaela DePrince’s story—and open, assured dancing—stays with you. As detailed in that film and this story by the Associated Press, DePrince was born in war-torn Sierra Leone and adopted by an American family. On July 17, she will perform Gulnare, the supporting soloist role in Le Corsaire, at the Joburg Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa. The performance, a joint production by South African Ballet Theatre and Mzansi Productions, is a huge opportunity for this 17-year-old superstar-in-the-making, who impressed NYC audiences at the JKO School at American Ballet Theatre’s year-end performance last month, and audiences worldwide when she appeared on Dancing With the Stars. This fall, she joins the newly revived Dance Theatre of Harlem. Merde for your big debut, Michaela!