Our chat with Li Cunxin AO, Artistic Director, Queensland Ballet.

We are absolutely thrilled and extremely honoured to be joined by Li Cunxin AO, Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet for our latest Coffee Conversation segment with Steve Healey.

Filmed on location in one of Queensland Ballet’s rehearsal studios, Li candidly chats with Steve about his childhood and growing up in China, where at the age of eleven, an unexpected opportunity saw him being selected by Madame Mao’s cultural advisors to attend the Beijing Dance Academy. Since then, Li’s determination and hard work has led him to achieve a successful career not only as a dancer, but also a stockbroker, mentor, and keynote speaker. Li published Mao’s Last Dancer, his international best-selling autobiography in 2003 which received numerous awards before being adapted into a feature film in 2009.

During their discussion, Li shared with Steve the significant challenges posed as a result of COVID-19 in 2020, causing the postponement of the Queensland Ballet’s 60^th Anniversary celebrations and Gala production, along with all other performances. As an individual who looks for the positives and opportunities in every challenge, Li details his approach to look after his team, maintain the wellbeing of the dancers and ensure as a group, everyone was ready to recommence performing and entertaining audiences once restrictions had eased.

This captivating conversation is one that will leave you inspired and is one not to miss.

 

Next Episode: A Coffee Conversation with Richard Hopkins, UNSW >>