This was published 11 months ago
‘We both have to face reality’: The extra blow on top of Li Cunxin’s health scare
By Benjamin Law
Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we’re told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they’re given. This week, he talks to Li Cunxin. The 62-year-old dancer and choreographer is the artistic director of Queensland Ballet, retiring from the role later this year because of a health scare. He is also the author of the bestselling Mao’s Last Dancer.
“You need to live your life to the fullest. Take every day that comes as if it’s your last.”Credit: Paul Harris
Bodies
How is ballet bad for your body, and how is ballet good for your body? If you want to pursue a ballet career, inevitably you are going to have some professional injuries – joints, ligaments, muscles – because you have to push your body to such extremes to get the maximum line and most beautiful positions. Landing from very high onto one leg or onto one knee; all the spectacular stuff. But for a lot of dancers who just want to enjoy the movement, one of our very popular offerings is the public general classes. Ballet is one of the best forms of exercise.
How much of your talent is innate and how much down to training? I would say 30 per cent talent, 70 per cent hard work. All of our dancers in the company could be stars, but there are a few variables. And the biggest factor isn’t talent: it’s work ethic.
A heart condition has prompted you to retire from your role at Queensland Ballet. How is your health at the moment? Not that long ago – last September – I actually went on stage and performed alongside my wife [Mary Li, former ballerina, now ballet mistress at Queensland Ballet]. So I never thought twice until this heart condition struck me down last November, where I fainted out of the blue on Hayman Island and was helicoptered to Townsville Hospital. They discovered quite a lot of fluid around my heart, which triggered atrial fibrillations. I’m still recovering now and still on some medications. Also, my wife has been diagnosed with cancer.
Oh, I’m so sorry. We both have to face reality, say, “Okay, we’re both over 60, and we’ve given all we can to the ballet.” So we’ve made the decision to really focus on our health and enjoy the fruits of our success.
Politics
You grew up in China with the rise of Mao Zedong. What do you remember being told about China and about the rest of the world growing up? Well, my generation of Chinese went through the most unbelievable political brainwashing. Mao’s Little Red Book was our Bible. The very few picture books we had were all very political, all red. We truly believed we were the most privileged children on earth, and the rest of the world lived the reverse. Then I grew up, Mao died, and China started opening up, and a lot of the truth started to come through. Suddenly, neighbouring countries – like Japan – had ballet companies visiting China. When they wore their dancer’s tights, for instance, we could only watch and marvel and be envious because we didn’t have any money to buy anything like it.
So that’s what happened when the world came to you. What happened when you went into the world? The best way I can describe it was as though you were thrown onto the moon. Two things struck me the most: the prosperity and the freedom. Not just physical freedom but mental freedom.
How have those life experiences affected how you see your life in Australia now? Oh, I love Australia! I love the people, I love the culture, I love the fact that the Australians have embraced me in a really big way. I think if you are willing to make a positive contribution, if you’re willing to work hard, if you’re willing to seize the opportunities that come your way – give your all to make success – people will respect you regardless of race or skin colour.
What constitutes good leadership? I think you have to be genuine. You have to be authentic and able to lead from the front. But you’ve also got to have an exciting vision. Otherwise, you’ll be a general without any army behind you. And I think you have to have empathy, be sympathetic.
Death
Do you fear your own death? I don’t feel fear. When I grew up, if people lived past 50, that was considered a good age. When my mother got mad at us, she’d keep saying her mother died before she was 40. She said, “If you keep me feeling angry, I will follow her footsteps!” We were all petrified she was going to die too early. That’s why I have the attitude that you need to live your life to the fullest. Take every day that comes as if it’s your last.
Was there grief involved in your decision to step down as Queensland Ballet’s artistic director? I wouldn’t call it grief, but I would call it reluctance. Obviously, I’m very proud and, at the same time, there’s still unfinished business. So there’s reluctance but not grief. In fact, I’m really at peace, satisfied, knowing I have left Queensland Ballet in a much stronger position than when I first took over. I’m excited to see how the company is going to embark on the next journey with its next leader. And I’m excited about the next stage of our –Mary’s and my – lives together.
What do you want your legacy to be? I’d like people to remember me as the Li who overcame enormous odds, overcame a lot of impossible hurdles, and maintained a positive mindset and gratitude for the success he achieved. And I also want people to remember that Li was a ballet dancer who came from very little in life and yet was able to leave a positive mark and enrich people’s lives.
What’s left to do before you die? I may do more writing. We will definitely do some travelling. I’ll do a lot more reading and be involved in worthy projects. I’d like to spend more time with Mary, my children and dear friends. Probably not mountain-climbing, but I’ll definitely climb different mountains.
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