Queensland Ballet

Even if you've never been to the ballet, you're probably familiar with Mao's Last Dancer, the extraordinary memoir of Li Sun-Sing, which tells the story of how a young boy in rural China was plucked out of poverty to train at the Beijing Dance Academy and go on to become one of the most acclaimed ballet dancers in the world, eventually landing in Brisbane, where he was the artistic director of Queensland Ballet for a decade.

Mal's Last Dancer sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide and was adapted into an award-winning film.

And now more than 20 years later, Lee Swin Singh is releasing his long-awaited second memoir, The Lucky Son, which picks up where Mal's Last Dancer left off.

give them job opportunities.

So that was, you know, something close to my heart.

And then, of course, directing the Queensland Ballet for over 12 years, it was truly an amazing journey.

During that time, I learned so much about myself, about as a leader, and there are a lot of lessons I want to share with the readers.

I'm interested to talk about the ending of your career as a dancer because it's one of those roles where it's very, very physically demanding and you know that it's not a long career.

At seven to 10, you may know him as Mao's Last Dancer.

Li Cunyi, of course, uh, former director of the Queensland Ballet.

He's joining us, uh, next hour.

He's got a brand-new book out called "The Lucky Son," which traces a bit more of the, the story.

Its author, Li Cunxin, has captured really the hearts of millions, captivated so many people.

So what happens after you sort of cheat fate a bit? Well, today we're joined by the legendary dancer, former stockbroker, celebrated artistic director himself.

He made Queensland Ballet the preeminent company in Australia, and he's just released his highly anticipated sequel, The Lucky Son.

It explores his life in Australia, the pull between two worlds, the true meaning of gratitude.

So what happens after you sort of cheat fate a bit? Well, today we're joined by the legendary dancer, former stockbroker, celebrated artistic director himself.

He made Queensland Ballet the preeminent company in Australia.

And he's just released...

He's highly anticipated sequel, The Lucky Son.

Yes I had a great you know loving and special parents and I felt so lucky to have born into such a loving family but as you know I was born into utter poverty we were starving when we grew up but the love was always there from them and that love gave us unconditional confidence You know, sort of going forward and to conquer what is in front of me or what the opportunities came my way to, you know, have chosen to study ballet at age 11 through the seven years harsh training eventually rose to the top.

in China, and then being subsequently discovered to go to America, and then meeting the love of my life, Mary, who's a Brisbane girl, and then coming to dance my final three and a half years as a principal dancer with the Australian Ballet, and made the career transition into stockbroking.

How could I possibly think that then I would be able to come back to ballet again to direct the Queensland Ballet? All these events in my life was all dreamlike to me.

Yeah, I can

Thank you.

And we're going home now to get on our glad rags and go to Queensland Ballet.

It's Giving day at Queensland Ballet today-

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... after having-