En pointe: Yet another gong for Mao’s Last Dancer
He’s known to the world as Mao’s Last Dancer but – as we all know – Li Cunxin also helmed Queensland Ballet for just over a decade, for which he has received another honour to cap off a brilliant career.
He might not be the artistic director of Queensland Ballet anymore, yet Li Cunxin is never far from the spotlight. Now he has been presented with the Prix de Lausanne 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award in Switzerland.
The award recognises Cunxin’s exceptional career – from overcoming adversity early in life in his homeland of China to his rise as a celebrated dancer (after defecting) before eventually leading Queensland Ballet to global success.
Known as the most prestigious ballet competition in the world, since 2017 the Prix de Lausanne has been presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to a dancer or choreographer who has made an outstanding contribution to the ballet world. Other notable recipients include Wayne McGregor and Alessandra Ferri.
Li Cunxin’s life story is a testament to overcoming adversity through discipline and perseverance. Born into extreme poverty in Mao’s China, Cunxin was 11 years old when he was selected to study at the prestigious and demanding Beijing Dance Academy. His seven years of harsh training, combined with his unwavering discipline and hunger to learn, saw him become one of the best male dancers in the world. The world knows his story through his autobiography, Mao’s Last Dancer, and the subsequent Hollywood film directed by Australian Bruce Beresford.
Cunxin enjoyed a long career as a principal artist with Houston Ballet, then The Australian Ballet, while also guesting internationally with renowned ballet companies. He then transitioned from dance to finance, excelling as a senior manager at one of Australia’s largest stockbroking firms. Never far from the world of dance, in 2013 he became artistic director of Queensland Ballet, where he transformed the company into a globally respected institution.
Under Cunxin’s tenure Queensland Ballet experienced huge growth, moving from a company of about 20 dancers to 60, including a world-class young artists program of 12 dancers – the Jette Parker Young Artists Program. Cunxin’s ambition and drive saw the development of the academy’s standalone, dedicated facility at Kelvin Grove and the $100 million renovation of Queensland Ballet’s home, the Thomas Dixon Centre, complete with a state-of-the-art theatre and a developing reputation as a cultural hub.
Director of development and endowment, former QB star Rachael Walsh, says Cunxin’s input was an amazing chapter in Queensland Ballet’s history.
“Li Cunxin’s leadership was instrumental in elevating Queensland Ballet to new heights, shaping the company into a world-leading institution, attracting top talent and building audiences,” Walsh says. “His dedication to excellence and fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration has set the stage for continued growth and success for Queensland Ballet in the years to come.
“We are grateful for his unwavering commitment to excellence and his enduring legacy that will continue to inspire generations of dancers and arts enthusiasts. In 2025, Li returns to leadership as chair of our endowment committee, working with our team to ensure Queensland Ballet enjoys a sustainable and vibrant future.”
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Cunxin’s extraordinary career has seen him receive many awards and honours. Notably, in 2016 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Griffith University for his services to ballet, the arts and the wider community. In 2019 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Academy student Xavier Xué Barriga was one of 86 dancers from 22 countries competing at the Prix de Lausanne this year. Australia did not make the list of prize winners this year, with the winning scholarship going to YounJae Park from South Korea. The US, UK and Japan also did well in the 2025 competition.
Pre-professional student Maya Irimichi was also at the Prix, participating in the Partner School Choreographic Project. Irimichi also had the opportunity to work on Our Common Fate, an original piece with Jessica Lang, performed during the soiree choregraphique and the finals’ interlude performance and the Rising Stars closing event last Sunday.
For the complete list of winners click here and to learn more about Li Cunxin’s extraordinary story click here