Michaela DePrince, a powerful ballerina who appeared in Dancing With the Stars and Beyoncé Lemonade movie, he died. He was 29 years old. Cause of death was not disclosed.
The devastating news was announced by her family through the dancer's social media pages. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the loss of star ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, whose art touched countless hearts and whose spirit inspired so many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet and beyond,” a statement on Instagram DePrince with his signature “The MDP Team” reads.
DePrince was born Mabinty Bangura in Kenema, Sierra Leone in 1995. She grew up in an orphanage, where she was abused because of her vitiligo. However, in 1999, she and a girl named Mia were adopted by Elaine and Charles DePrince in New Jersey.
DePrince enrolled in a ballet school in Philadelphia and was one of six core classes in the 2011 documentary First class. He appeared in an episode of Dancing With the Stars and went on to join the junior company of the Dutch National Ballet. She was also the second soloist for the Boston Ballet.
It's worth noting that DePrince appeared in Beyoncé's “Freedom” visual Lemonade film that accompanied her self-titled album in 2016. She also starred in the 2021 ballet film Coppelia.