Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, who performed with Beyoncé and was seen by many as a trailblazer, has died at the age of 29.
A spokesperson announced her death on her personal Instagram page and in a statement her family said she was an “unforgettable inspiration to everyone who knew her or heard her story”.
The cause of death has not been given.
DePrince made a remarkable journey from suffering as an orphan in war-torn Sierra Leone to numerous accolades in the world of international dance.
Her family said her death had been “sudden”, adding: “Michaela touched so many lives across the world, including ours.”
Tributes have been pouring in, including from others in the ballet community.
That’s not true. Accidental death is just as common if not more so.
Drug overdose is also often a possibility.
Edit: Why am I getting downvoted? I didn’t mean she overdosed. I’m just saying that’s a possibility when someone announces a famous person’s sudden death but we don’t find out until later. See: Prince.
I was including that as accidental.
Fair.