Mao's Last Dancer
Oct 7, 2009 0:08:10 GMT -5
Post by douglaslam on Oct 7, 2009 0:08:10 GMT -5
Many of us would have read the book Mao's Last Dancer, and perhaps seen the movie now on show.
It is the story of a peasant boy's rise from abject poverty in Shandong province to the world stage, literally, as a leading male ballet dancer, and who becomes a friend with a US President and First Lady. It is a story of one casual remark: what about that boy?, which brings on a life changing experience befitting a fairy tale.
This is the story of Li Cunxin. His memoir is a best seller, and the following interview was recorded ten years ago. I think it was a first major interview to go to air because Li was still a principal dancer with the Australian Ballet, not as well known then outside the artistic circles.
When the book was published there was no inkling that his autobiography was going to be a runaway success, and the movie was certainly not mooted. The book is also on some high school reading list.
Li Cunxin is now quite a celebrity in Australia. He is on the motivational speakers circuit for he is also a very confident and polished public speaker. It is a very big leap forward for a peasant boy.
This popular interview is well worth listening to, it has been broadcast again and again :
www.abc.net.au/classic/throsby/audio/throsby_05102009.asx
For those who can't get enough of Li's extraordinary achievement, or simply want to read and hear more, try the next link : search.abc.net.au/search/search.cgi?form=simple&num_ranks=20&collection=abcall&query=li+cunxin
Douglas
It is the story of a peasant boy's rise from abject poverty in Shandong province to the world stage, literally, as a leading male ballet dancer, and who becomes a friend with a US President and First Lady. It is a story of one casual remark: what about that boy?, which brings on a life changing experience befitting a fairy tale.
This is the story of Li Cunxin. His memoir is a best seller, and the following interview was recorded ten years ago. I think it was a first major interview to go to air because Li was still a principal dancer with the Australian Ballet, not as well known then outside the artistic circles.
When the book was published there was no inkling that his autobiography was going to be a runaway success, and the movie was certainly not mooted. The book is also on some high school reading list.
Li Cunxin is now quite a celebrity in Australia. He is on the motivational speakers circuit for he is also a very confident and polished public speaker. It is a very big leap forward for a peasant boy.
This popular interview is well worth listening to, it has been broadcast again and again :
www.abc.net.au/classic/throsby/audio/throsby_05102009.asx
For those who can't get enough of Li's extraordinary achievement, or simply want to read and hear more, try the next link : search.abc.net.au/search/search.cgi?form=simple&num_ranks=20&collection=abcall&query=li+cunxin
Douglas