Pretty Butterfly

Thursday, June 09, 2005

I finished reading an amazing biography of how a peasant boy who overcame all odds from a life of poverty in communist China to become one of the most successful ballet dancers.

In this book, Mao’s Last Dancer is Li Cunxin’s biography. His early childhood was spent in Qingtao together with his grandmother, parents and 6 other brothers. Life was tough and difficult with insufficient food to go around and endless meals of yam. One day, he was lucky to be picked to study at Madam Mao’s The Beijing Dance Academy for 7 years to hone his ballet, martial arts and philosophy arts which inculcate the teachings of communism in his teens. Cunxin’s sheer determination and perseverance in practicing with all the available time he had into ballet. Besides that, he had to deal with the constant emotional burden of his family’s improvished lifes back in Qingtao that make a significant impact on him to succeed. After the fall of communism, he was one of the two lucky students to spend 6 weeks in America in Houston Ballet and it opened his mind about the freedom he could have, not possible in China. The second time he went to America, he created quite a stir as he married an American girl named Elizabeth and didn’t want to go back to China. He suffered an ordeal in those days he was locked in a room in the Chinese Consulate and constantly interrogated by the officers. Charles Foster was a lawyer who helped him out and Cunxin became a Chinese citizen who defected to America. After that, his life turned for the better as a dancer who won many competitions and staging successful performances. After more than 15 years leaving China, he was able to visit his family again. Now, he lives contentedly with his wife and three children in Australia.

I happen to chance this book in Bukit Merah library. The title Mao’s Last Dancer, was intriguing. I was quite surprised that in those communism days, art could actually be possible but not without restrictions though. From Li Cunxin’s account, I could felt for him for his tough life as compared to mine, living in a comfortable environment of a middle class family. His struggle for a breakthrough in his life to escape being a lowly peasant was his constant determination and perseverance that I really admired a lot. Come to think about it, we are blessed to live in a democratic country where we can pursue our dreams and hopes. Even though it’s a rat race outside.

If you have time, read this book. I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Dreams never come true
12:19 am