All change at queensland ballet as li cunxin rings in the. Li s strong technique won him an extended stay, but his sudden marriage to a fellow academy student and his refusal to return to china when his visa expired briefly causing an international incident. Since his retirement from the stage in 1999, the chineseaustralian dancer had embarked on a highly successful career at the helm of a stockbroking firm. I had two family members in the childrens cast of queensland ballets nutcracker. Sep, 2017 the queensland ballets artistic director will make a oneoff appearance, along with his wife mary, in the nutcracker in december. One professor thinks australia is a standout loser, but his granny killer metrics don. The last time li and mary performed on the stage together was in 1991 at houston ballet in ben stevensons the nutcracker. Li cunxin the shepherd centre australian father of the.
Maos last dancer li cunxin makes ballet return after 18 years. Li cunxin ao born 26 january 1961 is a chineseaustralian former ballet dancer turned stockbroker. Like many, for the former internationally renowned ballet dancer, the festive season is all about the fairytale of clara and her adventures to the the land of. Li cunxin appointed artistic director of the queensland ballet. He did well in the financial market, helping to support his family of six brothers back in china, while retaining his love of ballet. He took full control of the companys reins this year and has made significant changes already with more in store. Sep 12, 2017 maos last dancer li cunxin is coming out of retirement to star in a special performance of the nutcracker in brisbane. Forced into ballet as a child in maos china, li cunxin defected to the us and had to work as a stockbroker to support his family back home. Texas ballet theater and queensland ballet exchange. Li cunxin arrived at queensland ballet as artistic directordesignate on july 16, 2012. While dancing in london li met his second wife, australian ballet dancer mary mckendry. Oct 20, 2017 mary mckendry and li cunxin performing esmerelda with the australian ballet. Rockhamptons mary mckendry met li while dancing in houston and the couple will dance together in the nutcracker for the first time in 26. Li cunxin business profile queensland ballet company.
Under lis tenure as artistic director, the nutcracker has become something of a modern christmas. Li cunxin and queensland ballet, one year on deborah jones. The queensland ballets artistic director will make a oneoff appearance, along with his wife mary, in the nutcracker in december. Maos last dancer li cunxin is coming out of retirement to star in a special performance of the nutcracker in brisbane. While dancing in london, he fell in love with an australian born ballerina with a major ballet company in england, mary mckendry. He is currently the artistic director of the queensland. Sbs language australias ballet rising star following in. His story of resilience and determination continues, influenced by his passion for dance and strong family values. He has published a remarkable book about his extraordinary life. Queensland ballets artistic director li cunxin has been announced as queenslands australian of the year 2014. If youre off to see graeme murphys moving reimagaination of the nutcracker, nows the time to get acquainted with the story, which follows a ballerina, clara, through the glamour and romance, tragedy and travels of her life. Jul 30, 2015 forced into ballet as a child in maos china, li cunxin defected to the us and had to work as a stockbroker to support his family back home. Queensland ballet artistic director li cunxin tends to see an opportunity where others see a stop sign, but even by that standard his guest appearance in the nutcracker on.
This season of the nutcracker has provided canberra audiences with its first opportunity to see queensland ballet under the artistic direction of li cunxin. Dec 21, 2017 cunxin whose autobiography maos last dancer was made into a major motion picture in 2009, danced as a principal under stevenson during his tenure as artistic director of houston ballet. Houston ballet flew lis parents to see his first performance as a principal dancer. David kelly li became qbs artistic director in the second half of 2012 and late last year signed on until 2020.
Photo by david kelly brisbane, australia li cunxin s life story is so extraordinary that it was made into an award. Li cunxin and queensland ballet, one year on deborah. He moved to melbourne in 1995 with his wife, dancer mary mckendry, to join the australian ballet as a principal artist. The queensland ballets artistic director, li cunxin, has announced the companys 2015 program, which includes a london debut and a blockbuster production of sleeping beauty.
Li cunxin brings his love affair with the nutcracker to. He was on the board of the australian ballet for six years, and on the australian council for the arts. Sep 22, 2014 the queensland ballet s artistic director, li cunxin, has announced the companys 2015 program, which includes a london debut and a blockbuster production of sleeping beauty. These are just some of the titles li cunxin has held over the years, but none more noteworthy than that of maos last dancer. Watch as our artistic director, li cunxin prepares to return to the stage in queensland ballets production of ben stevensons the nutcracker. Li cunxin and his now wife mary mckendry dance in the nutcracker in. Cunxin will be on stage with his wife for the first time in 26 years, next year in the. They married in 1987, and in 1995 moved to melbourne with their two children where li became a principal dancer with the australian ballet. Li cunxin in the nutcracker at the lyric theatre in brisbane on dec. Sep 19, 2019 an artistic directors position was far from li cunxin s mind when the brisbanebased queensland ballet came calling in 2012. Having led a long and diverse career as a dancer, li brings his passion for ballet, devotion to artistic excellence and international reputation and networks to queensland ballets rich 60year history. Wang often plays this classic repertoire with the australian ballet. Li cunxin, artistic director of the queensland ballet. Li cunxin ao pronounced shwinsing is queensland ballets artistic director, commencing with season 20.
Sbs language australias ballet rising star following in the. Li cunxin will make a oneoff performance of the nutcracker with the queensland ballet this weekend. The australian ballets own chengwu guo plays the teenaged dancer, and huang wen bin, a gymnast from china, was cast as the child. Li went on to win two prestigious silver medals at two separate international ballet competitions for america. The inspiring story of li cunxin has been translated into a bestselling novel and awardwinning film. Li cunxin was born li was born in a poor family, he was the sixth of seven brothers they lived in qingdoa province.
Queensland ballet is thrilled to announce that artistic director, li cunxin, will return to the stage this christmas, for one very special performance of the nutcracker li will take to the stage in the role of drosselmeyer 18 years after retiring from the stage and will be joined by other special guests, including his wife mary li. Maos last dancer li cunxin makes ballet return in the nutcracker after 18 years off stage. Married mary mckendry li married australian ballerina mary mackendry 1995. Texas ballet theater and queensland ballet exchange dancers. Li will take to the stage in the role of drosselmeyer 18 years after retiring from the stage and will be joined by other special guests, including his wife mary li.
Li cunxin and mary mckendry, houston ballet in 1987. It has been 18 years since the now queensland ballet artistic director has. Ballet prodigy li cunxin was a stockbroker before he. Li cunxin, the ballet star who could never really leave the stage by caranissa djatmiko february, 2018 0 3571 chineseaustralian dancer li cunxin has been enjoying his long yet productive retirement for years, and he has chosen to trade his ballet shoes for traveling across the world to teach young talents and be a motivational speaker. Li cunxin is a remarkable man born of a remarkable story. Sep 23, 2009 chi cao from the birmingham royal ballet plays the adult cunxin. Maos last dancer li cunxin and ballerina wife reunite on stage. Li cunxin pronounced lee schwin sing is a remarkable man borne of a remarkable story. Oct 01, 2012 li cunxins first choice for queensland ballet 20 program is ballet master and choreographer ben stevensons 1970 interpretation of cinderella, which will be sure to be booked out by families introducing their children to the world of ballet. Born in perth, david mcallister joined the australian ballet in 1983 and was promoted to principal artist in 1989. Li cunxin, the ballet star who could never really leave the. Queensland ballet has today announced its 2018 programme, describing it as a season of dreams.
In addition, he was the principal dancer with the houston ballet and the australian ballet for over 20 years and was considered to be one of the best dancers in the world. The nutcracker has a special palce in lis heart as it was the first. He is currently the artistic director of the queensland ballet in brisbane, australia. Li cunxin return to the stage for qpacs the nutcracker. Queensland ballet artistic director li cunxin takes the stage for first. Li cunxins first choice for queensland ballet 20 program is ballet master and choreographer ben stevensons 1970 interpretation of cinderella, which will be sure to be booked out by families introducing their children to the world of ballet. All change at queensland ballet as li cunxin rings in the new.
Despite funding issues, mentioned by li cunxin in his postperformance speech, queensland ballet stands tall and proud as a company that cares about the art form and its future. Jul 04, 20 li cunxin arrived at queensland ballet as artistic directordesignate on july 16, 2012. After an absence of 18 years, the man known as maos last dancer is returning to the ballet stage. Sep 09, 2009 li cunxin the shepherd centre australian father of the year 2009. Li cunxin the shepherd centre australian father of the year. With season tickets for the queensland ballet performances in 2014 now on sale, i am sure the public will be knocking down doors for a chance to experience works of art directed by queenslands australian of the year, li cunxin. From bitter poverty to the stardom of the west this is the extraordinary true story of one boys great courage and determination. Li cunxin, the ballet star who could never really leave. Other australian dancers were poached for the film as well. Lis story from bitter poverty to the stardom of the west this is the extraordinary true story of one boys great courage and determination.
Maos last dancer through the eyes of others dance australia. In 2009, the autobiography of former houston ballet principal dancer li cunxin maos last dancer was made into a film by australian director bruce beresford. All change at queensland ballet as li cunxin rings in the new year. Maos last dancer li cunxin makes ballet return in the. When li cunxin better known as maos last dancer first performed outside the crushing confines of 1970s communist china, it was in. Maos last dancer returns to the stage after 18 years. An artistic directors position was far from li cunxins mind when the brisbanebased queensland ballet came calling in 2012. When acclaimed australian director bruce beresford breaker morant, driving miss daisy set out to bring the story of chinas most famous ballet dancer to the screen he had a difficult call to make who would play the inimitable li cunxin. The nutcracker is very special in my heart because this is the first ballet show i performed in the west. For those who have never encountered ballet before this is a wonderful introduction to a whole. Li is one of the most acclaimed dancers of his generation a superstar of the ballet world. Queensland ballet artistic director li cunxin takes his curtain call after appearing in a special performance of the nutcracker. Jul 27, 2015 when cunxin retired from dancing with the australian ballet in 1999, he retrained as a stockbroker. Li cunxins queensland ballet pirouettes onto london stage.
Li cunxin, the ballet star who could never really leave the stage by caranissa djatmiko february, 2018 0 3571 chinese australian dancer li cunxin has been enjoying his long yet productive retirement for years, and he has chosen to trade his ballet shoes for traveling across the world to teach young talents and be a motivational speaker. Since his retirement from the stage in 1999, the chinese australian dancer had embarked on a highly successful career at the helm of a stockbroking firm. He met a teacher who cared and introduced to western ballet. When cunxin retired from dancing with the australian ballet in 1999, he retrained as a stockbroker. Having led a long and diverse career as a dancer, li brings his passion for ballet, devotion to artistic excellence and international reputation and networks to queensland ballets rich 58year history. The nutcracker has special significance for the pair. After 18 years offstage, cunxin returned for a oneoff performance as drosselmeyer, specially choreographed by ben stevenson, in the nutcracker for the queensland ballet, dancing again with his wife, mary mckendry, with whom he last danced in this work 26 years ago in houston. The queensland ballet has announced it has appointed li cunxin as the companys new artistic director. Maos last dancer li cunxin makes ballet return in the nutcracker. I think im almost more surprised than anyone that i applied, he said today in a phone interview, explaining that he was headhunted for the job.
Mary mckendry and li cunxin performing esmerelda with the australian ballet. Li cunxin the shepherd centre australian father of the year 2009. The thing is, drosselmeyer doesnt usually require much dancing. Cunxin whose autobiography maos last dancer was made into a major motion picture in 2009, danced as a principal under stevenson during his tenure as artistic director of houston ballet.
Queensland ballet artistic director li cunxin tends to see an opportunity where others see a stop sign, but even by that standard his guest appearance in the nutcracker on sunday afternoon was. Li cunxin artistic director presents queensland ballet 20. Queensland ballet artistic director li cunxin, with his wife mary mckendry, at qpac, south brisbane. The announcement was made by the honourable campbell newman mp, premier of queensland, at a special awards ceremony hosted by the national australia day council at the state library of queensland in november. The last time li and mary performed on the stage together. Li cunxin named qlds australian of the year 2014 dance. Maos last dancer li cunxin breaks 18year retirement for. Dec 11, 2017 when li cunxin better known as maos last dancer first performed outside the crushing confines of 1970s communist china, it was in the nutcracker back then li, who had been plucked.
The nutcracker has a special palce in li s heart as it was the first ballet in which he performed in the west for houston ballet, then under ben stevensons artistic directorship. Li cunxin, artistic director of the queensland ballet, reveals the 2018 season. His passion grew and he trained and he became their best dancer. Queensland ballet artistic director li cunxins extraordinary. But the man, whose extraordinary life story was told in the film maos last dancer, based on his bestselling. Li was the weakest and the youngest dancer when he first started. Li cunxin leading the queensland ballet through 2014. The last time he and mary danced together on stage was in the same houston production in 1991. Since his defection from the peoples republic of china in 1981, li danced as a principal dancer with the houston ballet and the australian ballet, at times performing alongside his wife mary li nee mckendry, a. Li cunxin is talking about drosselmeyer, a character from the ballet the nutcracker. Given the success of the season, for which all performances are completely sold out, it is hoped that it will herald the beginning of regular visits by the queensland ballet to the national. Its been 18 years since li cunxin last danced on stage, giving his final professional performance with the australian ballet in don quixote in 1999.
See more ideas about australian ballet, ballet and dancer. Today li lives in brisbane with his wife and children where he is artistic director of the queensland ballet. Li cunxins first season for the queensland ballet will include three full evening ballets, ben stevensons cinderella, a new production of giselle, produced by aigul gaisina, and a new nutcracker, whose producerchoreographer has not yet been announced. Photo by david kelly brisbane, australia li cunxins life story is so extraordinary that it was made into an award. But the man, whose extraordinary life story was told in the film maos last dancer, based. Ballet dancer li cunxin on innerviews with ernie manouse. Upon his return, he invited two chinese students, li cunxin and zhang weiqiang, for summer classes at houston ballet academy. It premiered on september, 2009, at the toronto international film festival, was nominated for several australian film awards, and won the aacta award for best original music score. Li is also appearing in a special oneoff performance in the qld ballets nutcracker december season in the role of drosselmeyer, alongside his wife, mary li.
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