Lilisa's Reviews > Mao's Last Dancer

Li Cunxin overcomes life's challenges and through sheer discipline, drive and the motivation to break through the shackles of communism, does just that. Born in a commune in northeast China, Li's impoverished family struggled to put food on the table, making sacrifices for each other as the bare essentials for basic living were virtually nonexistent. Despite the challenging conditions of everyday life, his parents taught him the values and principles that became his life compass as he overcame the harsh obstacles and struggles of Mao's regime, and against all odds became an international ballet dancer in the western world. From early childhood, despite their intense poverty, his parents instilled in him a sense of pride, self-determination and responsibility. His break comes in the form of a delegation from Madame Mao's Dance Academy - he's selected at the last second for a ballet program in Beijing at the age of 11. Separated from his family, thus begins his lonely quest to excel through sheer determination, focus, hard work and the knowledge that ballet is the key to his destiny...and it is. A story of sacrifice and success, endurance and emotion, of family and friendship, Mao's Last Dancer is a contrast of two worlds, simply told but yet moving and motivating. A remarkable life and one to be admired.