Celebrity Featured: Li Cunxin
Artist: Jan Williamson
Chair Donor: JD Furniture
Fabric Donor: Warwick Fabrics
Upholstery Donor: Jims Upholstery
About Li Cunxin
Li Cunxin entered the public eye in 2003 when his autobiography "Mao's Last Dancer" was published and immediately hit the top of the Australian Best Sellers list. His novel was rated the number 1 non-fiction book of the year in Australia, received the Christopher Award in America and was on the short-list for the National Biography Award. Upon release, it stayed in the Top 10 bestseller list for over 18 months, and is now in its 32nd printing - having been published and sold in over 20 countries, with a feature film reportedly in the pipeline. The book is also available in a young reader's edition.
Li was born just outside the city of Qingdao (Tsingtao) in the Shandong province of China in 1961. At age 11, Cunxin was selected by Madame Mao's cultural advisers to become a student at the Beijing Dance Academy. He later defected to the West, joining the Houston Ballet for 16 years, during which time he developed into one of the world's best male ballet dancers. In 1995, Cunxin emigrated to Australia, and spent the final 3 years of his professional ballet career as a principal dancer with the Australian Ballet.
After retiring from professional dancing, Cunxin now works as a senior manager at one of Australia's biggest stockbroking firms. He is married to Australian-born ballerina Mary Mackendry, with whom he has three children (Sophie, Thomas and Bridie).