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World famous ballet dancer Li Cunxin, author of the autobiographical book, Mao's Last Dancer, visited South Africa in February 2010 to raise funds for the Zama Dance School Trust in Gugulethu, Cape Town.

Article written by Debbie Hathway and published March 7, 2010; Weekend Argus; The Good Weekend, Sunday

Mao's last dancer brings message of hope

World-famous ballet dancer Li Cunxin (pronounced Lee Schwin Sing), author of the autobiographical book, Mao's Last Dancer, recently visited Cape Town to help raise funds for the Zama Dance School Trust in Gugulethu.

Tickets for his one-off motivational talk to scholars and ballet fans at the Cape Town International Convention Centre sold out and many balletomanes missed the opportunity to hear his inspiring story. Li's short visit was dictated by his "crazy" schedule, which includes touring to promote the film of his story, launched at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. "It ranks 11th among Australia's biggest films ever," says Li.

Five years ago, Li visited Joburg's townships while in South Africa on business and says he was reminded of his "childhood situations". Born into a peasant family during Mao Zedong's rule of communist China, when about 35 million people died of starvation, Li was selected to train at Madame Mao's Beijing Dance Academy.

"China has come a long way but deep in the country there are still poverty-stricken scenes. Maybe not as bad as South Africa…" says Li. His journey began at age 11, when he was sent away from his parents and six brothers, who he saw only once a year for the following seven years, to train for something he knew nothing about and grew to "hate with a passion".

"We didn't know what ballet was. We had no cinemas; no theatre. I was the weakest in my class, and I couldn't jump. My teacher described my legs as overcooked spaghetti."

In comparison, students at Zama Dance School find sanctuary in classical ballet from as young as six years old in the nurturing environment established by artistic director Arlene Westergaard 25 years ago. Supported by the Ackermans Family Trust, and assisted by ballet master Andrew Warth and secretary Vuyokazi Rubuxa, Arlene is now able to provide 85 children "a home away from home" for a few hours a day. Zama gives them the opportunity to forge professional careers as dancers and choreographers after they matriculate. Raymond Ackerman said Li's visit was symbolic for young people, "not just in the dancing field, but in many fields. Education, dedication and hard work are the epitomy of what this man has achieved. Mao's Last Dancer is one of the most emotional books I've ever read."

Li's training at the esteemed Beijing Dance Academy was six days a week, from 5.30am to 9pm. An inspirational teacher gave him determination and courage to work harder, practising his turns by candlelight and hopping up and down stairs with heavy sandbags tied to his ankles to build his leg strength.

Resilience, perseverance and vision made Li one of the best dancers China has produced. He was discovered by Ben Stevenson, one of the world's most respected teachers and choreographers and the artistic director of Houston Ballet, during the first US cultural delegation visit to communist China. Li defected to America and danced with Houston Ballet for 16 years and Australian Ballet for another four years.

"I hope that whoever hears my story, reads my book or sees the movie takes away encouragement, courage and strength to achieve their best in life," says Li.

Now, he juggles duties as board member for Australian Ballet and patron of the Newcastle Dance Academy of Australia with work as a senior manager at a major stockbroking firm and motivational speaking at engagements that give him a "similar buzz to finishing a wonderful ballet performance".

During Li's recent visit to Zama, student Neige Virgilio said that she really appreciated "Mr Li" taking such an interest in her and helping her with her technique.

Many of the young dancers agreed that he had made them feel that no matter what their circumstances, if they really wanted to they could use their ballet "just like Mr Li did" to achieve success when they grew up. "It's very rewarding… touching younger audiences," says Li. "It gives me the most pleasure as you have to use your imagination to find the right words to inspire them. In the financial world, you have to take emotion out of it."

He says purpose and passion helped him reach his goals. "Self-belief is the foundation for confidence and I developed a deep love for ballet."

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Case study of Zama student — Sonia Yabo

Sonia joined Zama Dance School when she was six years old. She was very keen on her lessons and has always remained so. She has developed from a tiny tot with talent into a 14-year-old teenager, who has taken great strides in her formal dance training at Zama and also within herself as a person.

Sonia stays with her grandmother, who takes an interest in her training and, together, we give her emotional and moral support. Sonia has taken on a new maturity and confidence and, with that, a better understanding of what it takes to achieve her goals. Success will surely follow.

Sonia has grown from strength to strength as she has entered many dance eisteddfods over the years and has always been a member of the performing team. She has danced the role of the main swan in The Enchanted Swans classical ballet group, which has achieved three gold medals to date. Having passed all her internal examinations with above average marks, she entered her first external RAD classical ballet intermediate foundation examination in 2008. This level of work requires female dancers to execute pointe work — Sonia achieved a distinction! Her achievement encourages us to think seriously of sending Sonia to a university once she passes grade 12 so that she can continue her dance studies full-time. She is keen to join a classical ballet company... In 2009, Sonia continued to improve and achieved a distinction for her performance in The Enchanted Swans in the Cape Town Eisteddfod.

She was also chosen to take part in the Cape Town City Ballet workshops in Stellenbosch and entered her RAD classical ballet intermediate examination for which she achieved a high merit award.

Sonia was given the lead role in new choreography created by ex-Zama student Mantu Jakavula for 2010 performances. "It is wonderful to see how much she has grown as a dancer; if she continues along this growth path there is no end to the opportunities that wait for her," says artistic director Arlene Westergaard.

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Zama and the Ackerman Family Trust

Zama students celebrate Raymond Ackerman's 79th birthday

Fast Facts

• The only South African rated one of the world's top 100 most respected businessmen by the Financial Times
• Honoured for his role in changing the retail landscape in South Africa through maximising consumer sovereignty within the Pick n Pay Group - the very idea that got him fired from his position as general manager of 85 Checkers stores for Greatermans at age 25; for his contribution to South African society through social investment and education; and for the legacy he has entrenched at Pick n Pay
• Retired as chairman of Pick n Pay on 14 March 2010, just a few days after his 79th birthday, 42 years after he founded the company

Zama and the Ackermans Family Trust/Foundation

"In 1984 Arlene (Westergaard) asked if she could meet me and I said yes - I see anybody who wants to see me. She said, 'I'm a dancing teacher, I teach young children - mostly wealthy white kids - but I really want to teach black kids, in a black area. Will you help me?'

"I was impressed by that. I asked what she needed and all it amounted to then was petrol money and a nominal rental for hiring the space she was using to teach classes in a church. Here was this woman going back and forth from Cape Town to Gugulethu in very difficult times in the apartheid era…

"Years later (1994/1995), just after Nelson Mandela was released from prison, Arlene came to me again and said: 'Is it possible that you can build me a school?'

"I nearly fell off my chair. I don't know much about dancing and I didn't know anything about building a school but I looked at the figures and, again, said yes!

"My wife Wendy is heavily involved in our family's social investment and educational programmes. We've grown some lovely people - one guy received a Sainsbury art scholarship and we've sent music students to The Juilliard School. I thought this fitted in quite well.

"It's about changing lives, giving children hope…

"It's the reason I went into business (I always wanted to be a doctor). I learnt that the more you give to others, the more people will give back to you.

"In 1948 I heard a lecture in commerce from Professor WH Hutt at the University of Cape Town. His message was about consumer sovereignty and that if money-making is your objective, you won't make it in business. A similar message was repeated at a seminar that I attended in the US in 1956 given by a master of retailing, Bernado Trujillo. He said business should be built on strong administration, good advertising, the right merchandise at the right price and social responsibility. I tried to sell that idea to Greatermans and it got me fired.

"Pick n Pay was built on simple principles and I've lived them. I've spent my whole life backing people…

"And I was so impressed with Arlene and what she was doing for those little children at Zama (and some of them have gone on to perform in shows like The Lion King and become good professional dancers), that I couldn't stop helping them. Her enthusiasm for the kids and the way that they were being given a chance in life is my reward."