Famous ballerina Michaela DePrince has passed away unexpectedly.

She was 29.

“DePrince grew up as an orphan in Sierra Leone before being adopted by an American family and moving to the U.S.,” People stated.

The world-class dancer is known for her appearance in Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’ video.

“With pain in our hearts, we share the loss of star ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, whose artistry touched countless hearts and whose spirit inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet, and beyond,” a post on her Instagram page read.

“Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us. She stood as a beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from the darkest of places,” it continued.

“Though her time with us was far too brief, her brilliance and legacy will continue to shine in the hearts of all who were touched by her story, for generations to come. Love and prayers go to her chosen family, friends, and those who loved her,” it added.

Devastating news

Sierra Leonean-American ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince has passed away. The news of her passing was announced on her official instagram page. No cause of death was given. She was 29.https://t.co/cm6mhvGKl0 pic.twitter.com/pl053xfgIP

— Vickie Remoe (@VickieRemoe) September 13, 2024

Metro reports:

The trailblazing dancer first rose to fame thanks to her inspiring story of escaping systemic violence in Sierra Leone, Africa and becoming a world-class dancer.

She was born Mabinty Mangura and spent the early years of her life in an orphanage in which she was underfed and treated poorly before being adopted by an American couple at the age of four.

She then spent her childhood in New Jersey where she trained as a ballerina, soon rising to world fame.

I watched this video so many times. I was in total admiration of Michaela DePrince, she moved so poetically. May she rest in perfect peace pic.twitter.com/pWXlhFoVHL

— Black Anthony Bourdain (@badgualriri) September 13, 2024

GREAT PERFORMANCES mourns the untimely passing of dancer Michaela DePrince, who memorably starred in an updated adaptation of ‘Coppelia’ in 2021, which combined live action performance with computer generated animation. pic.twitter.com/5tqBMf82Un

— Great Performances (@GPerfPBS) September 13, 2024

From People:

DePrince is survived by her five sisters and two brothers. In a written statement on Facebook, her sister, Mia, said she is “truly in a state of shock and deep sadness” following her sister’s death.

“My beautiful sister is no longer here,” Mia continued. “From the very beginning of our story back in Africa, sleeping on a shared mat in the orphanage, Michaela (Mabinty) and I used to make up our own musical theater plays and act them out.”

Mia recalled how she and her sister “created our own ballets” as children.

“When we got adopted, our parents quickly poured into our dreams and arose the beautiful, gracefully strong ballerina that so many of you knew her as today,” Mia shared, calling her sister “an inspiration.”

A cause of death has not been made available.

“Best way to end an amazing trip in NYC,” DePrince wrote in an Instagram post on June 7, 2021.

In the post, DePrince is wearing a sticker that says “I got the COVID-19 vaccine.”

“Best way to end an amazing trip in NYC – I Got The Covid-19 Vaccine.”

Michaela DePrince, a Ballerina for the Boston Ballet, died suddenly at 29, her cause of death remains unknown.#diedsuddenly #diedunexpectedly pic.twitter.com/GEiqfBUkn0

— Hello Dave #excessdeaths (@tulloch1978) September 14, 2024

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