Michaela Mabinty DePrince — a ballerina who went from war-torn Sierra Leone to worldwide dancing fame — has died … in line with an announcement posted to her Instagram.
A black and white pic of the star was posted to the account … with a protracted caption targeted on Michaela’s “grace, function and power” — including she poured her efforts into each her dancing and her humanitarian efforts.
Her group notes how she was solely alive for a short while … however, her legacy will proceed to reside on with all those that knew her. No reason behind demise was famous within the put up.
MMD was initially born in Sierra Leone, and brought to an orphanage throughout a civil battle within the nation. After the orphanage was bombed, she fled to a refugee camp … and, was ultimately adopted by a New Jersey couple.
She gained many alternative alternatives in the USA … turning into the youngest member of the vaunted Dance Theatre of Harlem earlier than heading throughout the Atlantic to affix the Dutch Nationwide Ballet.
In 2011, at simply 16 years outdated, Michaela appeared as one of many principal dancers within the documentary “First Place” — all about college students vying for a spot at an elite ballet faculty. The next yr, Michaela appeared on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Micahela additionally had an enormous function in Brandi Carlile’s music video for her tune “The Joke” … twirling about whereas Brandi emotionally belted the tune within the black and white clip.
In recent times, Michaela wrote a memoir … “Taking Flight: From Battle Orphan to Star Ballerina.” She additionally wrote a youngsters’s ebook, “Ballerina Desires,” to encourage the subsequent era of dancers.
DePrince was 29.
RIP
