Michaela DePrince, Acclaimed Ballerina and Beyoncé Collaborator, Passes Away at 29

The heartbreaking news of Michaela DePrince’s passing was shared by her family through the dancer’s social media accounts.

Michaela DePrince, a gifted ballerina who appeared on Dancing With the Stars and in Beyoncé’s Lemonade film, has died at the age of 29. The cause of her death has not been disclosed.

The announcement, posted on DePrince’s Instagram and signed by “Team MDP,” stated: “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.”

Born Mabinty Bangura in 1995 in Kenema, Sierra Leone, DePrince spent her early years in an orphanage where she endured mistreatment due to her vitiligo. In 1999, she and her friend Mia were adopted by Elaine and Charles DePrince and brought to New Jersey.

DePrince began her ballet training in Philadelphia and was featured in the 2011 documentary First Position. She later appeared on Dancing With the Stars and joined the junior company of the Dutch National Ballet. She also served as the second soloist for the Boston Ballet.

One of her most notable performances was in the “Freedom” visual in Beyoncé’s Lemonade film, released alongside the singer’s 2016 album. DePrince also starred in the 2021 ballet film Coppelia.