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 just awful. Anyone who dies that young has a tragic death, but it’s so much more tragic when you achieve the level of accomplishment she did.
Ballet does wreck your body though. I wonder if that contributed to whatever ended up causing her death.
Its so sad. She was a bright shining light.