Li, Cunxin (1961 - )

McMurdo, Don: Li Cunxin and Mary McKendry in pas de deux from 'Esmeralda', Australian Ballet Gala, 1990

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Born in the New Village, Li Commune, near the city of Qingdao on the north-east coast of China, Li Cunxin studied dance at the Beijing Dance Academy having been selected as a student by the cultural advisers of Madame Mao, wife of Chairman Mao. During his final year with the academy he was invited by Ben Stevenson, then artistic director of Houston Ballet, to study in Houston. Li left China and joined Houston Ballet in 1979. He was promoted to principal at Houston Ballet in 1982.

Li has guested with many dance companies including Northern Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Ballet, Ballet de Santiago, Teatro La Scala and the Australian Ballet. After his several guest appearances with the Australian Ballet, which began in 1990, Li joined the company as principal in 1995 making his debut as Vronsky in Anna Karenina. Roles created on Li include those in Ben Stevenson's Romeo and Juliet and The Miraculous Mandarin, in Christopher Bruce's Gautama Buddha and Stephen Baynes' Beyond Bach.

Li published his autobiography Mao's Last Dancer in 2003. He currently works as a stockbroker in Melbourne.

See also: Australian Ballet, The ; Baynes, Stephen ; Beyond Bach

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Research Materials

Ephemera | Picture | All

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Other resources

Find more about Li, Cunxin in:

• Collection - OzLife
• Internet - Google
• Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
• Pictures - Picture Australia