Mao's last dancer book

Maos last dancer is a heartwarming autobiography which reflects on the past of li cunxin, the author, who went from living a life of extreme poverty to becoming an international dance star. The first edition of the novel was published in 2003, and was written by li cunxin. Like millions of other peasants lives, it was a story that nearly vanished amidst revolution and chaos. Li was born into utter poverty i mao s communist china, at a very young age he was selected to train in madame mao. Mao s last dancer chapter summaries by jeremy deane on prezi. What i find most interesting is the fact that li cunxin published three. It recounts his journey from a young, impoverished village boy destined to labor in the fields of china to a worldfamous professional dancer. Maos last dancer will appeal to a wide range of students at many different levels. Mao s last dancer was published in 2003 and quickly became a best seller in australia. It is really about the nature of family love, courage, and obsession. Maos last dancer trailer a drama based on the autobiography by li cunxin. The childrens version won the australian publishers associations book of the year for younger children and the queensland premiers literary awards childrens book award.

Maos last dancer by li cunxin goodreads share book. How does dance become an important catalyst within the novel. In 1972, i was selected by madame mao s beijing dance academy to become a classical ballet dancer at the age of 11. It takes skill to write simply, just as it takes years of backbreaking work to make ballet look elegant and effortless. In a village of china named quingdao in the book, the eleven yearold li cunxin is selected by the communist party to study ballet at the madame mao s dance academy in beijing. At the age of eleven, li cunxin was one of the privileged few selected to serve in chairman mao s cultural revolution by studying at. One day he would dance with some of the greatest ballet companies of the world.

A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Told in his own distinctive voice, this is lis extraordinary and inspiring story of how he strove for brilliance and became mao s last dancer. Today i will be speaking to you about maos last dancer, the film adaption of the autobiography of li cunxin. In 1979, the young dancer arrived in texas as part of a cultural exchange, only to fall in love with americaand with an american woman. Li cunxins memoir tells his incredible story of rising from extreme poverty and the politics of fear in communist china to becoming one of the worlds most wellknown ballet dancers. Maos last dancer was made into a blockbuster film in 2009 and won several international prestigious awards.

It is intended for students in the year seven to year nine levels. Summary from a desperately poor village in northeast china, at age eleven, li cunxin was chosen by madame maos cultural delegates to be taken from his rural home and brought to beijing, where he would study ballet. Maos last dancer by li cunxin young readers edition just this week i had finished reading the autobiography novel, maos last dancer by li cunxin. Since its release in 2003, maos last dancer has sold over 500 000 copies and been turned into a major feature film. Maos last dancer is a memoir written by chineseaustralian author li cunxin and first published in 2003. Li cunxin was born in 1961 near the city of qingdao on the coast of northeast china. His journey filled with dreams shattered and revitalized. Given the autobiographical nature of the book this is unavoidable but despite my criticism, mao s last dancer is well worth experiencing in any format. These notes accompany the puffin young readers edition. Free download or read online maos last dancer pdf epub book.

The international bestseller the extraordinary memoir of. China during the cultural revolution was a place where you were told what to do, and what to say. Maos last dancer chapter summaries by jeremy deane on prezi. In a twist of fate worthy of a fairy tale or a ballet, li, at age 11, was selected by delegates from madame maos arts programs to join the beijing dance academy. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 480 pages and is available in paperback format. The sixth of seven sons from a poor rural family, his life changed forever when he was chosen to study ballet at the beijing dance academy.

Lis autobiography, mao s last dancer, has received numerous accolades including the australian book of the year award and has been published around the world. Maos last dancer by li cunxin penguin books australia. Once the story shifts to the west and focuses more on bureaucracy and politics, the pace was lost. Notes mao s last dancer notes persepolis questions. Maos last dancer is an memoir written by chineseaustralian author li cunxin and first published in 2003. It was also shortlisted for the national biography award. Its truly surreal to watch the movie based on my autobiography, mao s last dancer, unfolding on the silver screen. Mao s little red book is supposed to have all of the necessary wisdom for li to live a happy life, but it is memories of his childhood and the fables told to him by his mentors that prove to be far more powerful influences. Until, that is, madame mao s cultural delegates came in search of young peasants to study ballet at the academy in beijing and he. Many people, especially young readers, get the book as it is either required by the school or the book club they join, including my daughter. Maos last dancer movie tiein by li cunxin, paperback. Walker childrens 0 1 0 summary the young reader edition of the international bestseller.

Raised in a desperately poor village during the height of chinas cultural revolution, li cunxins childhood revolved around the commune, his family and chairman mao s little red book. Maos last dancer is told with simplicity, but lis style is deceptive. China speakers agency proudly presents li cunxin, chinese motivational speaker. It is a novel that is very thoughtprovoking and touching, as you can relate. How are they juxtaposed with the teachings of mao and his red book. At the age of 11, li was plucked from a poor chinese village. The international bestseller the extraordinary memoir of a peasant boy raised in rural maoist china who was plucked from. The true story of how a small, terrified, lonely boy, plucked from his life in rural china, became one of the greatest ballet dancers in the world. Maos last dancer is a 2009 australian film based on professional dancer li cunxin s autobiography of the same name. In particular, this novel stresses the importance of rising against the odds of your place in society to achieve even the most farreached and impossible dreams. He writes from the heart, just as he danced from the heart.

This fact shouldnt deter anyone from reading this moving account of a chinese peasant boys rise to fame as. Mao s last dancer is the inspiring true story of li cunxin and his extraordinary journey from a poor upbringing in rural china to international stardom as a worldclass ballet dancer. This fact shouldnt deter anyone from reading this moving account of a chinese peasant boys rise to fame as a ballet dancer and subsequent defection to the west. The award winning book maos last dancer from bitter poverty to the stardom of the west this is the extraordinary true story of one boys great courage and determination. I found the book to be a very interesting read as it was very inspiring and emotional. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of maos last dancer by li cunxin. One day he would be a friend to a president and first lady, movie stars and the most influential people in america. The main characters of this non fiction, biography story are. Li cunxin s memoir tells his incredible story of rising from extreme poverty and the politics of fear in communist china to becoming one of the worlds most wellknown ballet dancers.

Li, cunxin, the author, was an acclaimed ballet dancer before he wrote the book, which eventually was cast into a touching movie in 2009. It recounts his journey from a young, impoverished. Years later, he travels to houston in a cultural exchange program invited by the artistic director ben stevenson and he is promoted to principal dancer of the houston. Maos last dancer was published in 2003 and is an astonishing story that combines many absorbing elements i thoroughly enjoyed it. Li cunxin has written a remarkable book about his own remarkable journey. Read free book excerpt from mao s last dancer by li cunxin, page 1 of 1.

Visit the official mao s laster dancer movie website. His life story was originally published as maos last dancer, which became an international bestseller. Maos last dancer li cunxin, 2003 penguin group usa 451 pp. Prezi by ameliarose mao s last dancer li cunxin summary of book quotes information about the author recommendation my dear son, this is your lucky chance to escape from this cruel world. The international bestseller the extraordinary memoir of a peasant boy raised in rural maoist china who was plucked from his village to study ballet and went on to become one of the greatest dancers of his generation. He has published a remarkable book about his extraordinary life. Pdf maos last dancer book by li cunxin free download. Published on jun 10, 2010 maos last dancer trailer a drama based on the autobiography by li cunxin. Its a story of courage, a mothers love, a young boys longing for freedom a beautiful. Maos last dancer by li cunxin 9780141040226 booktopia. Visit the official maos laster dancer movie website. Maos last dancer is the inspiring true story of li cunxin and his extraordinary journey from a poor upbringing in rural china to international stardom as a. Considering what kind of life i came from, how could anyone even dare to dream of such a journey. This book has wide appeal, for it concerns not only a dancers coming of age in a turbulent time but also individual strength, selfdiscovery, and the triumph of the.

From a desperately poor village in northeast china, at age eleven, li cunxin was chosen by madame maos cultural delegates to be taken from his rural home and brought to beijing, where he would study ballet. Lis autobiography, maos last dancer, has received numerous accolades including the australian book of the year award and has been published around the world. Buy a discounted paperback of maos last dancer online from australias leading. Maos last dancer, the autobiography of li cunxin, is told in a simple, straightforward manner, principally because english is not the authors native language. The 2003 autobiography mao s last dancer, by li cunxin, is a book that is open to interpretationoverall, it is an interesting book that presents many different ideas and themes, including traditional chinese culture and the comparison between east and west ideology. Li cunxin is a remarkable man born of a remarkable story. Mao s last dancer tells the tale of li cunxin, a chinese dancer in the houston ballet. Maos last dancer was published in 2003 and quickly became a best seller in australia. The sixth of seven sons in a poor rual family lis peasant life in chairman mao s communist china changed dramatically when he was chosen by madame mao s cultural advisers to become a student at the beijing dance academy. Li, cunxin, the author, was an acclaimed ballet dancer before he wrote the book.

I enjoyed how the story gives insight into china during mao from the point of view of a young peasant boy thrown into the role of a dancer. Li cunxin was the 6th son in a poor family in rural china. His book is an unique story of determination, passion, integrity and love. His vivid descriptions of life at home, surviving on family love and dried yams, and of the harsh regime, make riveting reading guardian mao s last dancer is a modern fairytale. Maos last dancer by li cunxin book club discussion. Summary from a desperately poor village in northeast china, at age eleven, li cunxin was chosen by madame maos cultural delegates to be taken from his rural home.