Mao’s Last Dancer
A birthday to remember * Going to the premiere of ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’ at the Dendy Newtown, Sydney with my friend Sylvia, after she requested and received free tickets from ABC Radio.
‘Mao’s Last Dancer’ directed by Bruce Beresford and produced by Jane Scott for Hopscotch Films, was based on the book of the same name by Li Cunxin, relating his extraordinary true life’s story.
As a small boy, Li was plucked from his poverty stricken village school in Shandong Province in China, to train as a dancer in Beijing.
Belittled because of his lack of strength, Li seized his incredible opportunity and WORKED with everything he had, determined to succeed. So that ultimately he became a highly praised dancer in both the east and the west.
From the official Website of Li Cunxin
Li’s Autobiography ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’ hit the top of Australia’s best seller’s book list immediately it was published. The book became number 1 in the non-fiction category and won the Book of the Year Award in Australia, the Christopher Award in America. Now in its 32nd printing and published and sold in over 20 countries, the book has been made into a stunning feature film.
A unique story of determination, passion, integrity and love, Li’s journey is filled with dreams shattered and revitalized. This combined with the moving supporting ballet sequences and still photographs create an experience to be cherished.
And now: After being acclaimed as one of the best dancers in the world and dancing with the Houston Ballet for sixteen years, Li fell in love with and married Mary McKendry, an Australian born ballerina. In 1995 the couple moved to Melbourne with their two children.
At age thirty-four, Li started to plan a new career and enrolled in accounting and financial courses. He then began his study at the Australian Securities Institute by correspondence with a view to becoming a stockbroker.
For his final two years as a principal dancer with the Australian Ballet, he rose at 5 am to start ballet training, then racing to the stock exchange by 8 am to work as a stockbroker until noon. By the time he joined the rest of the Australian Ballet dancers for rehearsals, he had already put in a full day’s work.
Li is now a senior manager at one of the biggest stock broking firms in Australia. And as a motivational and inspirational speaker, Li’s unique real life story works so effectively with corporations and conferences’ various themes and objectives. It is a story that can truly touch people deep in their hearts.
For me: As an artist/sometimes art teacher, I have always believed that we all have an innate ‘natural creative talent’ that if given credence, then nurtured and developed, can in due course manifest in unique and meaningful art work.
And so I found the extra, extraordinary measures that Li took to develop ‘lightness’ in order to make those spectacular leaps that he became famous for, absolutely inspirational.
Li always danced for his parents: In the belief that he could never hope to return to China or see his family again. And so perhaps the most moving sequence in the film was towards the end when the ‘VIPS’ arrived to see their sixth son dance for the first time.
Which leaves me with the feeling that as we WORK to develop our personal CREATIVITY we will eventually acquire ‘something more’ than our latent natural talent may have produced * That will be truly appreciated by others and for many will be their catalyst of inspiration.
Yours in personal F * R * E * E * D * O * M
Ally * Alison Lee Cousland
Skype: Allyinspirit
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