This very unusual autobiography tells the story of a young Chinese peasant boy who became a renowned ballet dancer for the Houston Ballet company. Li Cunxin was born in the northern Chinese city of Qingdao, in 1961. He eloquently tells the story of his early life, as the sixth son in his family. Everyone in the village is poor and hungry, but his family works together to survive. China is under the control of Chairman Mao, and everyone is taught to follow his teachings without question. Cunxin's life changes forever when a group of ballet teachers come to his village looking for candidates for Madame Mao's ballet school. Cunxin is selected for the ballet academy, and taken to a boarding school near Beijing to begin his relentless training. At first, he is not very good, and barely passes the tests, but he persists because his parents have told him it is his only chance for a better life. As training continues, he comes to love ballet and becomes highly motivated to excel in his art. He and another student are given the rare opportunity to visit the United States for a summer training with the Houston Ballet. There, he finds that everything he has been told about the West and the United States was a lie; he also finds wonderful inspiration for his dancing. On a second visit to the U.S., he takes the risky step of defecting, and begins to build his dance career with the Houston Ballet.
Li has given us a very vivid picture of provincial life in Mao's China and his strong ties to his family. His writing, while awkward in places, gives a very authentic feel to the story, which often reads like fictional narrative. While I have no affinity for ballet, this story really pulled me in. Recommended for anyone who has an interest in China or ballet. 445 pages.
