“What about that one?” These were the words that changed a young peasant boy’s life by the name of Li Cunxin’s life forever. By pure luck he was chosen to study ballet and serve in Chairman Mao’s Revolution, he didn’t know it at the time but he would grow up to become one of the best dancers of all time. His book ‘Mao’s last dancer’ retells his amazing story of survival, courage and the battle one man had to prove his worth.
Li Cunxin was born in poverty, stricken area in Qingdao, China to peasant parents who struggled daily to provide him and his 6 brothers with food. Although his living conditions were harsh, he was showed unconditional love and support by his family which got him through his childhood. Even though he was happy and content with this, he knew there was more to life then being a peasant.
After being chosen at age 11, Li Cunxin showed courage through the rigorous training sessions and made it to then go on training for 7 years at the Beijing Dance Academy. What followed were events that would bring his success out to the world today.
Li Cunxin, at first found it hard to understand ballet, but after much perseverance, hard work and determination he made it to the top. At the age of 18, he was awarded a scholar ship to America and was offered a contract to the Houston Ballet. Everything was different in America, people had a freedom of speech, and they could come and go as they please.
This had a major affect on Li Cunxin, who started doubting the Chinese Revolution. A week before having to be deported back to China, he fell in love with Elizabeth Mackey, whether it was true love or used as his ticket to stay in America, is not pointed out, but he married her a few days before having to leave, causing controversy in China and America, even the President George. W Bush got involved. This caused a 21-hour investigation at the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Houston, where crowds gathered to support Li Cunxin in his campaign to stay, going against all wishes of China. He succeeded, but his citizenship from China was revoked and he was cut off from his family. It seems only after a short period of being married to Elizabeth, they separated from personal circumstances. It seemed their true love just couldn’t be. Or was it now that he had got his permanent residency in America, he didn’t need Elizabeth’s help anymore?
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