A ballerina from Sierra Leone who appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” and in the music video for Beyonce’s “Lemonade” album died on Friday at the age of 29 – and left an eerie final post on Instagram.
Michaela Mabinty DePrince, 29, captioned her latest post with a peace sign hand gesture emoji while wearing an all-black Nike outfit.
The post also features the song “Better” by soul singer Khalid, whose lyrics read: “Nothing feels better than this, nothing feels better.”
The dancer’s death came just a week after the death of her adoptive mother, Elaine “Mamma E” DePrince. The ballerina’s sister, Mia DePrince, announced the family tragedy on her Instagram.
Michaela Mabinty DePrince, 29, died on Friday at the age of 29 – and left an eerie final post on Instagram
DePrince appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” and in Beyonce’s music video album “Lemonade.”
DePrince’s family has not yet released a cause of death for “Mamma E” or the young dancer who won a huge fan base with her story as an orphan who escaped violence in Sierra Leone to become a world-famous ballerina.
The adopted ballerina’s final post switches to a second photo in which she wears a sportier gray and white Nike-sponsored outfit and looks off into the distance.
After DePrince’s death, the post was flooded with condolences.
One comment read: “I am heartbroken by the news. This is so heartbreaking as I am a girl who was adopted at a young age and wanted to learn to dance. Rest in paradise.”
Another read: “I am still in shock and not knowing what happened is even more heartbreaking.”
One Reddit user said: “This hit me really hard and I don’t take this lightly. I cried when she finally got her chance in Beyonce’s video. I cried because I was so proud of her. I’m still crying about it.”
DePrince’s family has not yet announced a cause of death
The dancer’s death occurred just a week after the death of her adoptive mother Elaine “Mamma E” DePrince, as the ballerina’s sister, Mia DePrince, announced on Instagram.
DePrince’s 30-year-old sister also shared a touching post on Instagram yesterday of the two as young girls.
The post reads: “I am truly in shock and deeply saddened. My beautiful sister is no longer here. From the beginning of our story in Africa, when we slept on a shared mat in the orphanage, Michaela (Mabinty) and I have always made up and performed our own musicals.”
The sister of the groundbreaking ballerina continued to rave about beautiful memories from her childhood.
“We created our own ballets. She did the choreography and I was the composer and conductor. When we were adopted, our parents quickly fulfilled our dreams and the beautiful, graceful and strong ballerina that so many of you know her as today was born.
“I love you, my beautiful butterfly,” the post concluded.
Born Mabinty Mangura, the ballerina was malnourished and abused in an orphanage during the early years of her life 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 death on Friday, DePrince’s spokesman said her “art touched countless hearts and her spirit inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet and beyond.”
Announcing her death on Friday, DePrince’s spokeswoman said her “art touched countless hearts and her spirit inspired many and left an indelible mark on the world of ballet and beyond.”
“Her life was marked by grace, determination and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts and her courage to overcome unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us,” the statement said.
DePrince was an avid humanitarian who often advocated for the rights of children affected by conflict and violence.
She served as an ambassador for War Child Holland and frequently flew “to third world countries to provide dance lessons to orphans and children,” her sister said on Instagram.
Instead of flowers, DePrince’s family has asked people to donate to War Child, an organization that supports the famous ballerina.
