A Sierra Leonean ballerina who appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” and in Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” music video died Friday at the age of 29, leaving a chilling final post on Instagram.
Michaela Mabinty DePrince, 29, captioned her latest post with a peace gesture, wearing an all-black Nike ensemble.
The message also includes the song ‘Better’ by soul singer Khalid, which includes the lyrics: ‘Nothing feels better than this, nothing feels better.’
The dancer’s death comes just a week after her adoptive mother, Elaine “Mamma E” DePrince, also passed away. The ballerina’s sister, Mia DePrince, revealed the family tragedy on Instagram.
Michaela Mabinty DePrince, 29, died Friday at age 29 — leaving a chilling final post on Instagram
DePrince appeared on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and in Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ music video album
DePrince’s family has not yet released a cause of death for “Mamma E,” the young dancer who won legions of fans by sharing her story of escaping violence in Sierra Leone as an orphan and becoming a world-famous ballerina.
The adopted ballerina’s final post transitions into a second photo of her in another, sportier gray-and-white Nike outfit as she looks off into the distance.
After DePrince’s death, messages of condolences poured in.
One comment read: ‘Heartbreaking news. I recognize you so well as a girl who was adopted at a young age and loved to dance. Rest in paradise.’
Another said: ‘I’m still in shock and the fact that I don’t know what happened is even more heartbreaking.’
One user on Reddit said, “This really hit me hard and I’m definitely not taking this lightly. I cried when she finally got her chance in Beyonce’s music video. I cried because I was so proud of her. I’m still crying about it.”
DePrince’s family has not yet released a cause of death
The dancer’s death comes just a week after her adoptive mother, Elaine “Mamma E” DePrince, passed away, as announced on the Instagram of the ballerina’s sister, Mia DePrince
DePrince’s 30-year-old sister also shared a touching post of the two as young girls on Instagram yesterday.
The post read: ‘I am truly in shock and heartbroken. My beautiful sister is gone. From the beginning of our story in Africa, sleeping on a shared mat in the orphanage, Michaela (Mabinty) and I created and acted out our own musical plays.’
The sister of the groundbreaking ballerina kept reminiscing about her childhood.
“We created our own ballets. She would choreograph and I would be the composer and conductor. When we were adopted, our parents quickly threw themselves into our dreams and the beautiful, graceful, strong ballerina that so many of you know today was born.
“I love you, my beautiful butterfly,” the message ended.
Born Mabinty Mangura, the ballerina spent her early years malnourished and abused in an orphanage before being adopted by a couple in New Jersey at the age of four.
Mia DePrince, 30, shared a touching post of the two sisters as young girls on Instagram on Friday
Announcing her passing on Friday, DePrince’s spokesman said that her “artistic talent touched countless hearts and her spirit inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet and beyond.”
Announcing her passing on Friday, DePrince’s spokesman said that “her artistry touched countless hearts and her spirit inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet and beyond.”
“Her life was marked by grace, purpose and strength. Her unwavering dedication to her art, her humanitarian efforts and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us,” the statement said.
DePrince was a fervent humanitarian who often worked for children affected by conflict and violence.
She was an ambassador for War Child Holland and often flew ‘to third world countries to give orphans and children dance lessons’, her sister shared on Instagram.
In lieu of flowers, DePrince’s family is asking people to make a donation to War Child, an organization that supported the famed ballerina.