Michaela DePrince Death: Remembering a Star Ballerina's Journey
Michaela DePrince Death Shocks Arts Community
LOS ANGELES — Sierra Leonean ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, a star of Dancing with the Stars and Beyoncé’s Lemonade music video, has died at the age of 29, according to her family. The news was shared on her personal Instagram and confirmed in a statement on Facebook. No cause of death has been revealed.
A Legacy of Inspiration
Her family expressed deep sorrow, stating, “It is with profound sadness we announce the sudden passing of our beautiful sister, Michaela Mabinty DePrince. Michaela touched so many lives across the world, including ours.” The ballet community is mourning her loss, with American ballerina Misty Copeland posting a heartfelt tribute that included videos of DePrince dancing and an excerpt from her book, Black Ballerinas.
- “Despite being told the ‘world wasn’t ready for Black ballerinas’ or that ‘Black ballerinas weren’t worth investing in,’ she remained determined,” Copeland wrote.
- DePrince's journey began in Kenema, Sierra Leone, where she was born on January 6, 1995, and faced numerous hardships as a child.
- Adopted in 1999, she thrived after being introduced to ballet at a young age.
- Her rise to fame started with the documentary First Position in 2011.
Throughout her career, she served as an inspiration, making her mark in the world of ballet and beyond.
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