Queensland Ballet artistic director Li Cunxin and wife Mary step down due to health issues

In a shock announcement, Li Cunxin and his wife Mary are both stepping down from their roles at Queensland Ballet, revealing they are battling serious health challenges.

• Interview: ‘It is time to give to each other’

Li Cunxin has stepped down as artistic director of Queensland Ballet, as he and wife Mary Li battle serious health challenges.

Li made the emotional announcement today at Queensland Ballet’s Thomas Dixon Centre, saying he was battling a heart condition, and Mary had been privately battling cancer for some time.

“It’s a bittersweet moment, my wife and I didn’t make this decision lightly,” he confessed.

“I’m so proud of what we have achieved as a team.

“But what I’m most proud of today, is that Queensland Ballet is a company with international respect, reputation, and admiration, and we have been able to attract the world’s best choreographers, stages, creatives, dancers, and we have a really fantastic global repertoire.”

Li Cunxin and wife Mary together at home yesterday. Picture: David Kelly

Mary Li will also step down from her long term role as ballet mistress at Queensland Ballet, with Li revealing that both he and Mary had been ‘in and out of hospital quite a few times’ in the last few months, but chose to keep their health battle private.

“Both Mary and I have struggled,’’ Li said.

“Mary has been struggling for the last 10 months, and for me it’s been the last seven months. We have both been challenged, and while we would both love to continue at Queensland Ballet, our health has meant we are both struggling to do our jobs with the time and commitment they require.

Li Cunxin and wife Mary met when they danced together.

“We are in this job as a team and we have both made Queensland Ballet our priority, because we love it, and it has always come first in our lives, but now we need to take care of each other. I very much want to look after Mary.”

Li emphasised the critical role of nurturing future talent, expressing his pride in what’s been achieved under his leadership.

“In the last few years, we have built a wonderful Academy, an endless pipeline of talent that will come through this world-class training system.

“I’m thrilled to have played a small part in enticing more people into the audience, in helping lovers become lovers of ballet.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk paid tribute to Li and Mary, saying the pair had given Queensland “so much”.

Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet Li Cunxin announces his retirement at the Thomas Dixon Centre on Tuesday. Picture Lachie Millard

“Li has been an inspiration to generations of dancers, especially those in our State,” she said.

“But it is as an artist and a man that he is most warmly regarded.

“Along with Mary, an accomplished and acclaimed ballerina, Li set an example for others to follow and blazed a trail from Brisbane to the world.

“Perhaps it is to Mary that we owe the most thanks: the girl from Rocky who brought Li to a new home and happiness in Queensland.”

Few people have done more for the arts in Queensland than Li Cunxin.

As Mao’s Last Dancer, he earned global recognition for his story and his talent.

But as Artist Director of the Queensland Ballet, he took Queensland to the world stage.

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) June 20, 2023

Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said she was “saddened” to hear that Li was stepping down as Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet to focus on his health.

“For over a decade, Li has grown Queensland Ballet into an internationally renowned company with his enthusiasm and drive,” she said.

“He has championed touring across the state with innovative programs and world-class performances enabling many Queenslanders to experience the beauty and power of dance.

I have spoken to Li and thanked him on behalf of all Queenslanders for his incredible contribution to Queensland Ballet and the state’s art sector, and I wish he and Mary the very best.”

Li Cunxin, wife Mary Li and their daughter Sophie in 2020. Picture: Mark Cranitch

Chair of Queensland Ballet Brett Clark, revealed that finding a replacement for Mr Li will be difficult, but it is a job the organisation is prepared to tackle.

“One comment we made is that we can’t replace Li, he is unique. With my commercial background, I’ve never seen an artistic person who actually knows numbers better than him,” he said.

“To replace him is going to be difficult, but the opportunity, I believe from a board and a company perspective is not to try and replace Li, but is trying to acknowledge what Li and Mary’s legacy is, our challenge will be to say ‘how can we do that, and structure that legacy and take us in to bigger better things’.”

Both Li and Mary are much loved members of the Queensland arts community.

In Li’s 11 years as artistic director with Queensland Ballet, he is credited with turning its fortunes around, doubling the amount of dancers in the company, and creating a world-class training academy.

Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet Li Cunxin and wife Mary at the Thomas Dixon Centre after announcing their retirement on Tuesday. Picture Lachie Millard

Sharing his sentiments about stepping away from his cherished role, he confessed he will most miss is being able to guide new young talent.

“What I will miss most is working with talented, aspiring young people – helping them to deliver, to achieve their best,” he said.

He also expressed how much he would miss “the excitement of bringing all the different creative energy and talent together”.

Mr Li marvelled at the trajectory his life has taken, from humble beginnings as an 11-year-old kite-flying peasant boy in China.

“I never really would have ever dreamt that my life would turn out in such a beautiful way, rewarding way” he said.

“As this 11 year old peasant boy flying kites in the bitter wintertime because the ground was so frozen.

“Flying kites that my father made for us, sending these secret wishes looped around it, written on a little piece of paper, and I would hope the wind will blow that up into the sky, sending them up, the wishes into heaven.”

“I can’t possibly have dreamt of a life like this as an 11 year old, as a peasant boy back in China.”

Li Cunxin putting dancers through their paces.

His autobiography Mao’s Last Dancer chronicled his journey from a small province in China to the world’s stages, and was made into a feature film. Mary, a former principal dancer, has been ballet mistress at the Queensland Ballet for 10 years, and is also credited with growing the company’s international reputation.

The couple say they will now take time out to concentrate on their health, and spend time with their children, Sophie, 33, Tom, 30, and Bridie, 25.

“We want to be with our family, and we hope to do a few things together that we just haven’t had the time to do”, Mary said.

“I think we’ve devoted 11 years, seven days a week, everything, our first thought was always about Queensland ballet, so I think we’ll lean on each other.

“We’ll have time to enjoy, and I’m not sure what it (retirement) will bring, but we’ll both miss it and we will hopefully still be connected.

“I think we can just go slow, which will be a nice for once and see where it goes.

“But in our hearts, we will never be too far away from Queensland Ballet.”

Originally published as Queensland Ballet artistic director Li Cunxin and wife Mary step down due to health issues