CINDERELLA

Queensland Ballet Artistic DirectorLi CunxinLi Cunxin (pronounced shwin-sing) is Queensland Ballet’snew Artistic Director, commencing with Season 2013.Having led a long and diverse career as a dancer, Li bringshis passion for ballet, devotion to artistic excellence andinternational reputation and networks to QueenslandBallet’s rich 53-year history. He is the Company’s fifthArtistic Director and the first curatorial Artistic Director.“I think Dance Education is aboutplanting the seed in children’shearts, as early as possible,ensuring their understandingand appreciation of dance. Inhindsight, I missed out on thatas a child. Before I went to theBeijing Dance Academy, therewas no such thing as an artisticeducation. I really think it’sessential to involve youngstudents in this art form.”Li CunxinAt the age of eleven, Li was selectedby Madame Mao’s cultural advisors toattend the Beijing Dance Academy.In 1979 he joined Ben Stevenson’sHouston Ballet company as anexchange student and later went onto achieve the top rank of Principalin 1982. He moved to Melbournein 1995 with his wife, dancer MaryMcKendry, to join The AustralianBallet as a Principal Artist. Li retiredfrom dancing in 1999, at the age of38, but maintained his strong tiesto the ballet community. Beforetaking on the role of Artistic Directorat Queensland Ballet, Li workedin Melbourne as a senior managerat Bell Potter, one of the largeststockbroking firms in Australia. Hehas been on the board of the BionicsInstitute, and sat on the board of TheAustralian Ballet from 2005 until hisappointment as the Artistic Directorof Queensland Ballet.In 2003 Li published his internationalbest-selling autobiography Mao’s LastDancer, which has received numerousawards. The book was adapted as afeature film in 2009.Above: Li Cunxin Photographer: Chistian Aas5TEACHER’S RESOURCE KITCINDERELLA