Li Cunxin’s memoir recounts his remarkable journey from a life of extreme poverty in Communist China to international stardom as a ballet dancer. Born to peasant parents in 1961, Li endured political oppression and hardship during Mao’s regime, yet was selected at age eleven to train at the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy. His talent led to a groundbreaking cultural exchange with the Houston Ballet in 1979, where he experienced Western freedom and artistic expression. In a bold move that drew global attention, Li defected to the U.S. in 1981, defying the Chinese government. His story is a powerful testament to resilience, ambition, and the universal desire for freedom.
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