A war orphan from Sierra Leone, DePrince moved to the US and ended up performing with Beyoncé.

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.

  • @[email protected]
    19•3 months ago

    The cause of death has not been given.

    I think if she’d been in a car accident or something similar, they’d be forthcoming about it. I think this suggests a terrible illness. Sad news. Didn’t know who she was, but it’s a shame that someone who was truly gifted didn’t get to continue achieving greatness.