Motivational talk by Mao's Last Dancer author Li Cunxin in Cape Town

A fundraising event in aid of Zama Dance School in Gugulethu

The moving life-story of Chinese ballet dancer Li Cunxin was first published in 2003 in an internationally acclaimed autobiography entitled Mao’s Last Dancer. Li Cunxin’s inspiring story caught the imagination of film producers and soon the film version of Li’s book will preview at Nu Metro cinemas in South Africa.

During February, Li Cunxin plans to visit South Africa as Raymond Ackerman’s guest, with the purpose of raising funds for Zama Dance School, a ballet school based in Gugulethu.

As the title of his book implies, Li was born into a period of revolution and chaos under communist dictator Mao Tse-tung. While he initially had no interest in or any real aptitude for dancing, he soon realised that ballet was his passport to escape the desperate poverty in which his family was forced to live. Determined to help them financially, he learnt to dance through sheer strength of will.

Although Li defected to the West - where he went on to become one of world’s most acclaimed ballet dancers - he never forgot his roots and still regularly visits his family in China. Li now lives in Australia with his ballet dancer wife and their three children.

While in South Africa Li will be the guest speaker at a motivational breakfast in Cape Town on Monday 22 February at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Tickets are available from Computicket and include a continental breakfast. All proceeds will be donated to the Zama Dance School.

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