Li Cunxin
Li Cunxin is a Chinese-born author and former ballet dancer whose autobiography 'Mao's Last Dancer' recounts his journey from a poor village in rural China to becoming one of the world's premier classical dancers. After defecting to the West, he danced with the Houston Ballet and later the Australian Ballet. Following his retirement from dance, he has worked as a stockbroker and serves as the artistic director of the Queensland Ballet in Australia.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. Mao's Last Dancer
The book is a memoir of a Chinese peasant boy who, chosen at a young age by Madame Mao's cultural delegates to become a ballet dancer, undergoes a grueling training at Beijing Dance Academy. Through sheer determination and resilience, he excels and earns a rare opportunity to study in America. His experiences abroad open his eyes to the stark contrasts between the communist regime of China and the freedoms of the West. The story follows his emotional and ideological struggle as he eventually defects, leaving behind his family and homeland to pursue his passion for dance and a life of artistic and personal freedom.
The 7103rd Greatest Book of All Time
