- Mao's Last Dancer (book)
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Mao's Last Dancer 
Cover of Mao's Last Dancer (Young Reader's Edition)Author(s) Li Cunxin Country Australia Language English Genre(s) Auto-biography Publisher Penguin Books Australia Publication date 2003 Media type Print (Paperback & Hardback) Pages 326 pp ISBN 0-14-330164-0 OCLC Number 156327916 Mao's Last Dancer is an auto-biography written by Chinese-Australian author Li Cunxin and first published in 2003. It recounts his journey from a young, impoverished village boy destined to labour in the fields to a world-famous professional dancer.
Contents
Storyline
Li Cunxin is born into a poor family commune in a small rural village in Shandong Province, where he is destined to work in the fields as a labourer. At first overlooked but selected after suggestion by his teacher during a school visit, Li seems bewildered by the gruff preliminary inspection screening at the province capitol city of Qingdao. Selected to travel to Beijing to audition for a place in Madame Mao's Dance Academy, he is admitted to its ballet school after passing a series of physique examinations. Years of arduous training follow, until his initial mediocre performance is finally overcome due to inspiration from one aged teacher's personally costly devotion to classical ballet as opposed to the politically motivated, strident form favored by Madame Mao. His determination and courage leads to him being grudgingly permitted by the Academy to travel abroad to Ben Stevenson's Houston Ballet company as an visiting student for three months. In the United States, he begins to question the Chinese Communist Party dictates upon which he has been raised, and falls in love with an aspiring American dancer, Elizabeth Mackey. They rush their marriage so that Cunxin can remain in the United States indefinitely, and to avoid a defection which may have consequences for his family. Visiting the Chinese Consulate to announce his decision while trying to prevent the sure backlash upon Stevenson, the resident Chinese diplomat forcibly detains Li in attempt to coerce his return to China; when he continues to refuse to go willingly, the Party condescends to release him to stay but revokes his citizenship and declares he can never return to the land of his birth. Full of concern for his family, Cunxin continues to dance, but his relationship with Elizabeth breaks under the stress.
Film Adaptation
Li's autobiography has been adapted into a feature film directed by Bruce Beresford. It had its debut screening at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2009 and had premiere screenings in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane. These premiere screenings allowed guests to meet the stars of the film, and all money raised was donated to the Australian Ballet and the Bionic Ear Institute.[1] The film was released theatrically on October 1, 2009.[2]
Public Reception
When Li Cunxin first released Mao's Last Dancer it was received enthusiastically by the public. It received numerous awards and recommendations, and has been praised by numerous organisations for its unique writing style and captivating storyline.
References
- ^ Official Site of Li Cunxin, http://www.licunxin.com/film.htm, Accessed 25th September 2009
- ^ Mao's Last Dancer at IMBD
External links
Categories:- Australian books
- 2003 books
- Show business memoirs
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