DePrince, who has died aged 29, was a ‘beacon of hope’ for dancers, says English National Ballet first soloist

Michaela Mabinty DePrince, whose death aged 29 was announced on Friday, has been recognised for “shifting the whole ballet world” and “paving the way” for Black ballerinas.

Tributes continue to pour in for the trailblazing dancer who was orphaned during Sierra Leone’s civil war then adopted and raised in the US where she became an internationally acclaimed ballet star. DePrince performed with companies including English National Ballet (ENB), whose first soloist Precious Adams described her as the “ultimate” example of “following your dreams and succeeding”.