DePrince was orphaned by the war in Sierra Leone before moving to the United States

Michaela DePrince performing ‘Giselle’ with the English National Ballet in January 2017 (Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Michaela DePrince, one of the ballet world’s brightest stars, has died. She was 29.

An orphan of war in Sierra Leone, DePrince moved to the United States while still an infant and went on to perform with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Dutch National Ballet and the Boston Ballet.

She rose to fame after being featured in the 2011 documentary First Position, and was also known for appearing in Beyoncé’s visual album Lemonade and performing on Dancing with the Stars.

Her death was announced in a statement from her team on her official Instagram page. “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,” it 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.”

No cause of death has yet been announced.

Michaela DePrince attending the American Ballet Theatre Gala in New York in June 2022 (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for American Ballet Theatre)

DePrince was born Mabinty Bangura in Kenema, Sierra Leone on January 6, 1995. She grew up as an orphan from the age of three after her father was reportedly shot and killed by the Revolutionary United Front and her mother starved to death.

At the age of four she was adopted by an American couple, Elaine and Charles DePrince, and moved to Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

DePrince went on to study classical ballet in the US, and was one of the stars of the 2011 documentary First Position, which followed six young dancers as they competed for a place at an elite ballet school.

She made history by becoming the youngest principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, before moving to the Netherlands to dance with the Dutch National Ballet. She then returned to the United States to dance with Boston Ballet.

In 2012 she appeared on Dancing with the Stars, and in 2016 she choreographed her own dance moves to accompany the song “Freedom” on Beyoncé’s visual album Lemonade. 

“She said I looked like I was a creature from another planet,” DePrince told the Wall Street Journal about meeting the pop superstar. “She walked up to me and said, ‘It’s such an honor to have you here.’ I was really cheesy and said, ‘The honor is mine.’ I was on cloud nine.”

Her 2014 memoir, Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina, which she co-authored with her adoptive mother has been published in 12 countries. In 2018 it was announced that Madonna was attached to direct a film adaptation.

Boston Ballet paid tribute to DePrince following her death. “We’re sending our love and support to the family of Michaela Mabinty DePrince at this time of loss,” said their statement. “We were so fortunate to know Mabinty; she was a beautiful person, a wonderful dancer, and she will be greatly missed by us all.”