Watch legendary ballet teacher Mary Li lead an exclusive classical ballet masterclass with NZSD students, then meet international bestselling author and former ballet star Li Cunxin AO for an intimate book signing.
When: Tuesday 8 September 2026, 10am - 12:30pm
Where: New Zealand School of Dance, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown, Wellington
Tickets: $20, places for this exclusive event are limited with only 30 tickets available.
Mary started learning ballet in regional Queensland, Australia. She went on to study at the Royal Ballet School at age 16 and joined the English National Ballet in 1978, dancing as Principal Dancer for both English National Ballet and Houston Ballet. It was at Houston Ballet that Mary and Li became dance partners - they later married and have three children.
Mary sacrificed her beloved dance career when the couple discovered their first child, Sophie, was born deaf. Her total devotion and commitment helped Sophie overcome extraordinary challenges - today, Sophie is a successful businesswoman and founder of a global sign language website.
Mary is now a highly sought-after ballet teacher and coach, instrumental in developing world-class ballerinas at both The Australian Ballet and Queensland Ballet. Her journey was captured in her best-selling autobiography Mary's Last Dance, published in 2020.
Li Cunxin's journey is remarkable. Born into poverty in Mao's Communist China, he was selected at a very young age to train at Madame Mao's Beijing Dance Academy. Seven years of harsh training taught him the discipline, resilience and perseverance that would define his life - and his astounding drive made him one of the best dancers in the world.
Li went on to make a successful career transition from ballet into finance, becoming a senior manager at one of Australia's largest stockbroking firms. He was named 2009 Australian Father of the Year, Queensland Australian of the Year in 2014, and received the Asia Society's Game Changer Award in 2015. He holds the Queen's AO Honour for his distinguished service and contribution to arts and ballet.
Li led Queensland Ballet for 12 years, transforming it from a small regional company into a world-class organisation. His extraordinary life story is told in his memoir Mao's Last Dancer - a number one Australian bestseller, winner of Australia's Book of the Year Award and the USA's Christopher Award for literature, now in its 60th reprint and adapted into a blockbuster film. Li's story stands as a living example of overcoming adversity to achieve excellence.
Penguin Books is proud to support this event and will provide bookplates for Li's brand-new book, The Lucky Son - not yet released to the public.
To receive your bookplate and signing, preorder The Lucky Son through Unity Books and bring your proof of purchase on the day:
Order Li's original bestseller: Mao's Last Dancer >
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