Ballerina Michaela DePrince, who performed in Beyoncé’s 2016 “Freedom” music video, has died at age 29.
“Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength,” a post shared to her official Instagram page on Friday read.
“Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us.”
The announcement also praised the dancer as a “beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from the darkest of places.”
DePrince’s cause of death has not been revealed.
The dancer’s family also confirmed her death via a lengthy post on Facebook.
“Her passion and impact on the dance world, especially in inspiring young Black dancers to pursue their dreams, has been tremendous,” their touching tribute read. “We will miss her and her gorgeous smile forever and we know you will, too.”
Her sister, Mia, shared her own statement and recalled the passion DePrince had for dance even as a young orphan in Africa.
“From the very beginning of our story back in Africa, sleeping on a shared mat in the orphanage, Michaela (Mabinty) and I used to make up our own musical theater plays and act them out,” she wrote.
“We created our own ballets. She would choreograph, and I was the composer and conductor.”
Memorializing her later life, she added, “Whether she was leaping across the stage or getting on a plane and flying to third-world countries to provide orphans and children with dance classes, she was determined to conquer all her dreams in the arts and dance.”
Her rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
In addition to being a phenomenal dancer, she has an inspiring story of resilience and determination.
She was orphaned as a child after her father was murdered in Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war and her mom died of a fever, she told Glamour in 2015.
She lived with 26 other orphans before being adopted with her sister and moving to the US at age 4.
While living in America, DePrince studied ballet at the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet.
Her clear talent landed her a starring spot in the 2011 “First Position” documentary, which followed dancers as they prepared for the Youth America Grand Prix — the largest student ballet scholarship competition in the world.
She joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem in 2012, where she became its youngest principal dancer.
DePrince next moved to the Netherlands to dance for the Dutch National Ballet.
In 2021, she returned to the US to take her place at the Boston Ballet as a principal soloist.
She wrote about her encouraging life in her 2016 memoir, “Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina.” She also released a children’s book based on her life titled “Ballet Dreams.”
She told Glamour her dream was to open a school in Sierra Leone.
“Sometimes you just need to make a little ripple to open the doors for others,” she noted.
She is survived by her sisters, Mia, Beelee, Jaye, Mariel and Amie, and her brothers, Adam and Erik.