During her performing career, Mary danced principal roles in all the major classical ballets, including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker, as well as leading roles in contemporary ballets, some created especially for her. In 1985, Mary joined Houston Ballet as a principal dancer. She joined the London Festival Ballet (English National Ballet) in 1977 and was promoted through the ranks to principal dancer in 1981. At sixteen she was accepted into the Royal Ballet School, London. She was first introduced to ballet by her teacher Valeria Hansen. Mary Li (formerly Mary McKendry) was raised in Rockhampton, Queensland, the third of eight children. WINNER Courier-Mail People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award 2021. The essential companion to Mao’s Last Dancer, and an outstanding read!’ BETTER READING Facing everything with ambition and drive, Mary writes about her life in beautiful detail, from hardships to hope. 'Full of love and hope, Mary’s Last Dance is an honest and profound look into the enchanting life of Mary Li. What could have happened to cause a woman so committed, so talented, to give it all away in a heartbeat? Now, almost twenty years on, we learn what happened next to this inspiring family, and why it is Mary’s turn to tell a truly remarkable tale. Then right at the height of her international career, Mary seemingly disappeared from view. The couple became the darlings of the dance world, and were happier than they could have imagined at the arrival of their firstborn daughter, Sophie. It saw her move to London at age sixteen, to study at the Royal Ballet School and dance at the London Festival Ballet with the likes of Nureyev, and later to Houston Ballet, where as Principal Dancer she fell in love with the acclaimed dancer Li Cunxin. Growing up in a rambunctious family in Rockhampton, Mary discovered an extraordinary early passion for ballet. She became a household name when her husband Li Cunxin published his bestselling memoir, Mao’s Last Dancer – but that book told only half the story. Mary Li is an international ballet star and a mother like no other. It is a moving and unforgettable story of passion, dedication and devotion – and the highly anticipated sequel to one of the world’s most beloved books. Mary’s Last Dance is a powerful and uplifting memoir about chasing an impossible dream, and sacrificing one’s own ambition for the love of a child. The highly anticipated memoir of Australian ballerina Mary Li – and the long-awaited sequel to her husband Li Cunxin's bestselling memoir, Mao's Last Dancer. Millions fell in love with Mao's Last Dancer.
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