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.
Often in a news article when someone is described as dying “suddenly” without any other explanation it’s understood to be a euphemism for suicide.
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.