CNN —Michaela Mabinty DePrince, the ballerina born during a civil war in Sierra Leone who performed in Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’ visual album, has died aged 29, according to an announcement posted to her official Instagram page. DePrince told the WSJ she thought it was a joke when she heard the singer wanted her for the video, who told DePrince in person it was an ‘honor’ to have her star. Ballerina Michaela DePrince teaches a ballet class at One World Observatory in New York City on April 26, 2017. “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. Michaela DePrince in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 9, 2012.

---

Persons: CNN — Michaela Mabinty DePrince, Mia, DePrince, ’, –, – DePrince, ”, “, Ballerina Michaela DePrince, Jason Kempin, Michaela, Mabinty, “ I’m, Michaela DePrince, Denis Farrell, Misty Copeland, “ Michaela, Ballerina ’, Child Holland, CNN’s Nkepile Mabuse Organizations: CNN, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dutch National Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet, America Grand Prix Locations: Sierra Leone, Sierra, New York City, New Jersey, United States, Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, ’