Mao’s Last Dancer Li Cunxin on his long-awaited follow-up: ‘I don’t think my publisher expected it to take 14 years!’
Li Cunxin, the celebrated Chinese Australian ballet dancer and former artistic director of the Queensland Ballet, has released his long-awaited follow-up memoir, 'The Lucky Son,' which continues the story from his acclaimed 2003 autobiography, 'Mao’s Last Dancer.' In this new book, Cunxin reflects on the sacrifices made by his wife, his unexpected career shift to stockbroking, and his successful tenure leading the Queensland Ballet.
Cunxin's journey to complete this sequel took an astonishing 14 years, a timeline he attributes to his dedication to the Queensland Ballet and the complexities of life. Initially, he had planned to write about the lives of his brothers and friends in China, but his responsibilities as a ballet director took precedence. This memoir promises to offer readers a deeper understanding of his extraordinary life and the changes he has witnessed over the years.
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Summarized by Ballet Trader from The Guardian — Dance.
Read the full article: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/oct/10/chinese-ballet-maos-last-dancer-li-cunxin-memoir-follow-up-14-years
Cunxin's journey to complete this sequel took an astonishing 14 years, a timeline he attributes to his dedication to the Queensland Ballet and the complexities of life. Initially, he had planned to write about the lives of his brothers and friends in China, but his responsibilities as a ballet director took precedence. This memoir promises to offer readers a deeper understanding of his extraordinary life and the changes he has witnessed over the years.
—
Summarized by Ballet Trader from The Guardian — Dance.
Read the full article: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/oct/10/chinese-ballet-maos-last-dancer-li-cunxin-memoir-follow-up-14-years