In 2016, Michaela DePrince shot to fame after being featured in Beyoncé’s Freedom music video. The Sierra Leone ballerina had been hand-picked by the artist and ended up creating a legacy for herself after the music video was released. After all, her story could inspire even the most lost soul. The 29-year-old’s journey from war-torn Sierra Leone to the global stage managed to even catch the attention of the Queen of Pop, Madonna.
The pop legend had turned in her microphone for a director’s chair to bring DePrince’s tale of tragedy to life. However, the biopic will be one that the dancer will never get to see.
Michaela DePrince’s tale comes to an unexpected end
8 years after shooting to fame for her insane dancing skills, Michaela DePrince has unexpectedly passed away. The demise of the ballerina at the young age of 29, came as a shock to her friends, family, and fans all over the globe. Although the details of her death have not been made public, a spokesperson took control of her Instagram page to share the unfortunate news with her 260k followers.
Apart from sharing DePrince’s untimely passing, the post was also captioned, “Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us. She stood as a beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty, and greatness can rise from the darkest of places.”After all, the prima ballerina had led a rather difficult life as both her parents had died in the Sierra Leone Civil War.
With DePrince being put in an orphanage after the tragic event, and making her way out of the dark place, it is no wonder that her story caught the interest of anyone who heard it. After all, it even wound up reaching the ears of Madonna just a year before she danced for Beyoncé.
The story of Michaela DePrince: What happened to Madonna’s Taking Flight
In 2015, MGM bought the rights to Michaela and Elaine DePrince’s memoir, Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina. With plans to turn the book into a full-blown film, the world was interested in learning more about the 29-year-old. In fact, even Madonna had all hands on deck with major plans to direct the biopic and bring the dancer’s story to life. In an interview with Variety, the singer shared why she wanted to work on the project.
Michaela’s journey resonated with me deeply as both an artist and an activist who understands adversity.
Madonna continued, “We have a unique opportunity to shed light on Sierra Leone and let Michaela be the voice for all the orphaned children she grew up beside. I am honored to bring her story to life.” Everyone seemed excited about the rags-to-riches story. But it never ended up seeing the light of day.
In fact, after news of Madonna’s involvement in the biopic back in 2018, there has been no update about DePrince’s epic story. Now, her untimely passing may have left the project in an indefinite state of limbo. However, her legacy continues to be an inspiration to many.
