A life shaped by dance

Mao's Last Dancer is the memoir of Li Cunxin, a dancer who was born in 1961 in a village in China. A memoir draws on the writer's memories and experiences. Li grew up in a large family. When he was 11, he was chosen to leave home and train at the Beijing Dance Academy. There, students practised ballet for many hours each day. The training was demanding, but Li worked hard and improved. In 1979, Li travelled to the United States with a group of dancers from China. The visit introduced him to a very different way of life. Later, he chose to remain in the United States, a decision that meant being separated from his family for a time. He went on to become a professional ballet dancer and performed with the Houston Ballet. Li eventually moved to Australia, where he continued his dance career and later worked in finance. He wrote Mao's Last Dancer to tell the story of his journey: from a childhood in China, through years of dance training, to a life and career across different countries. His story explores ambition, change, family and the effort involved in pursuing a goal.