Li Cunxin (pronounced “Lee Schwin Sing”) is a remarkable man with a remarkable story. His best selling autobiography “Mao' s Last Dancer”, recounts his determination, perseverance, vision, courage and hard work, and in particular, the sacred family values and integrity that he learned in poverty-stricken China. 

Li was born into utter poverty in Mao’s communist China and in certain years the peasants in his village even ate tree barks to survive; but his childhood was full of love and the love of his parents gave him hope and courage. At the age of 11 he was randomly selected to train in Madame Mao's Beijing Dance Academy. And so began Li's journey. The 7 years of harsh training regime at the Beijing Dance Academy taught him discipline, resilience, determination and perseverance and his astounding drive and relentless hard work made him one of the best dancers China has produced.

When he was 18, Li was awarded one of the first cultural scholarships to go to America, and subsequently being offered a soloist contract with the Houston Ballet. Two years later, Li defected to the West in a dramatic media storm.  He then went on to become one of the best dancers in the world, won two silver and a bronze medal at three International Ballet Competitions. In 1995, Li and his family moved to Australia where Li danced his last three and half years as a principal dancer with the Australian Ballet.

For the final two years of his dancing, Li studied finance at the Australian Securities Institute with a view of becoming a stockbroker. This meant a 5.00 am start for daily dance practise, then racing to the stock exchange by 8.00 am. When he joined the company's dancers for afternoon rehearsals, he had already put in a full day's work. Li made a successful career transition from ballet to finance in 1999 and is a senior manager at one of the largest stockbroking firms in Australia.

Li’s book “Mao's Last Dancer” quickly rose to No. 1 on the Australian Non-Fiction Best-Seller List and received the US Christopher Award for Literature,  Book of the Year Award in Australia and was short-listed for several other prestigious literacy awards. It’s been translated into several foreign languages and is sold in over 20 countries worldwide and a featured film based on Li’s extraordinary life has now been released.

Li’s story is one of determination, passion, integrity and love; as a motivational and inspirational speaker his empowering story with so many lessons, works very effectively with corporations and conference themes and objectives and touches people whenever he speaks.