Principal speaker
Mr Kerry O'Brien
Other speakers
Li Cunxin AO Mary Li
A better future for all turns to the world of dance for a compelling saga of determination, a will to succeed and a love story for the ages. Join Kerry O'Brien, in conversation with ballet power couple Li Cunxin AO and Mary Li to reveal the intertwined tales of this remarkable pair, reflected in their books Mao's Last Dancer and Mary's Last Dance.
A talented boy from rural poverty in China, Li Cunxin is catapulted to stardom when, at just 11, he is selected from millions to become a dancer. But then, at the height of his prominence, he makes the extraordinary decision to defect to the USA. On the other side of the world, Australia's Mary McKendry is also destined for international ballet stardom. From a chance meeting in London a romance blossoms and Mary and Li Cunxin go from dance partners to life partners.
This in-conversation instalment will traverse each of their incredible careers, their success against the odds and Mary's heart-breaking decision to sacrifice her career for the love of their child.