Li Cunxin (pron “Lee Schwinsin”) is a remarkable man borne of a remarkable story. He has published a best-selling book about his life. He writes most appreciatively of his loving mother. He recounts the family values, and in particular integrity, that he learned in poverty stricken China. He tells of how the sixth of seven sons born to peasants grew up worshipping Mao Zedong before defecting to the United States.

Li was born into "bitter poverty". There was never enough food to go around in his family's two-bedroom home in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao. He barely wore shoes until he started school at the age of nine, and until eleven he slept top to toe with his parents and younger brother. But, he is quick to point out; it was a happy upbringing in a home full of love.

At the age of 11 he left home to train at Madame Mao’s Beijing Dance Academy after being hand picked by talent scouts. After detesting dancing for the first few years, Li began to train five times harder than his fellow dancers and his hard-work and determination certainly payed off when at the age of 18 Li was offered a soloist contract with the Houston Ballet Academy.

After two years, Li defected to the West in a dramatic media storm which involved then Vice President, Mr George Bush Snr. and the FBI.

Li Cunxin, after being married twice, now has a family and is a senior manager at one of Australia’s biggest stockbroking firms.

Li’s book, "Mao's Last Dancer" which was published in September 2003 recounts his inspirational life journey through poverty stricken China to his new life in the U.S.A.

As a motivational and inspirational speaker, Li’s unique real life story works with corporations and conferences’, their various themes and objectives. His keynote speech is a story or perserverance, wonder and dedication. A motivational speaker who can reach out to any diverserse audience.

"Li Cunxin was without a doubt, the best speaker and storyteller ever engaged for a presentation by the Australian Institute of Management Qld & NT. Our 2006 Management Excellence Awards Gala Dinner and State Final was made all the more successful because of Li's mesmorising presentation. He held an audience of over 550 people in a trance-like state for over 40 minutes. He used peaks and troughs, laughter and tears, highs and the lowest of lows in his life to transport the audience into his life story. Even then, we were only able to share a snippet of the magic as time did not allow us to hear the full story. Not a person in the room moved or spoke during his time on the stage and all were just a "little in love" at the end. I even saw grown men with tears on their face, let alone most of the women." Australian Institute of Management