Li Cunxin's Second Memoir: A Life of Sacrifice

Li Cunxin, acclaimed dancer and former artistic director of Queensland Ballet, has authored a second memoir, 'The Lucky Son.' This book resumes his narrative from where 'Mao's Last Dancer' concluded, focusing on his and his wife Mary's move to Houston Ballet.

The memoir delves into significant personal sacrifices. Mary Cunxin gave up her ballet career to help their daughter, Sophie, overcome profound deafness, enabling her to thrive with a cochlear implant and embrace dance. Sophie's later communication expressed a desire for her parents to meet her in her deaf world, prompting her parents to learn Auslan.

Cunxin's career trajectory saw him transition from ballet to stockbroking after a setback with the Australian Ballet directorship. Despite this, he later accepted the role at Queensland Ballet, leveraging business insights from his stockbroking years to foster donor relationships and lead the company's transformation.

The book revisits cherished characters from his first memoir and concludes with Cunxin receiving the prestigious Prix de Lausanne in 2025. Having navigated personal health challenges, Cunxin and Mary are now embracing a slower pace of life, cherishing their experiences.