Mao’s Last Dancer Li Cunxin AO opens up about life after Queensland Ballet

Li Cunxin AO has opened up about his love of a very Queensland pastime and what he has been up to since he retired as Queensland Ballet’s artistic director.

Mao’s Last Dancer is moving to a different rhythm – that of the ocean, as he enjoys life away from the Queensland Ballet spotlight.

Bodysurfing is a “learned love” for Li Cunxin, who grew up in poverty, the sixth of seven sons to peasants in rural China before becoming an international ballet sensation.

“It is one of my favourite things, to be honest, but it never came naturally to me because I never had a chance when I grew up to swim in a beautiful beach like on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast,” Mr Li said.

Li Cunxin has more time for bodysurfing now he’s finished up as Queensland Ballet’s artistic director. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“What I love is not just the elation of riding the wave, which is really beautiful, but also wading into the water and making your leg muscles really work – it helps to build up some strength because for the best part of last year I felt out of condition.”

Mr Li, 63, left the ballet after 12 years as artistic director at the end of 2023, the year after he had knee surgery and was diagnosed with a heart condition.

“I couldn’t do half of what I used to do, I was always taking fast steps and people would say, ‘we can’t keep up with you’, but I slowed right down due to my atrial fibrillation and the medication for that.”

Li Cunxin at Coolangatta. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Li, who took up bodysurfing in the late 1980s after watching wife Mary’s brothers in action, also has more time for travelling.

He and Mary, who is battling cancer, did a March cruise on the Queen Mary II from Darwin to Indonesia and Hong Kong.

“I previously experienced motion sickness so it was a really big decision but Mary felt we would enjoy it and we each gave a presentation on our lives as the guest speakers.

“We were treated like a king and queen – then I connected with some friends in Hong Kong before going into China to see the five of my six brothers still left.”