Li Cun-Xin: How I Inspire Myself

Li Cun-xin (screenshot)

Newland first introduced Li Cun-Xin to our readers in the feature story "Dancing between Roles" in 2005.

His biography "Mao's Last Dancer" was later published and keeps reprinting even today. The same titled movie was also well received worldwide. Mr. Li has become an acclaimed speaker on self-motivation. In 2009, he became the first Asian recipient of "Shepherd Centre Australian Father of the Year". At the turn of the dragon year, Newland has the honour of interviewing Mr. Li for the third time.

NL: When we talked last time, you were busy with the promotion of your new film. What are you busy with now?

Li: I am still flying because of investment and speech engagements that are my main work. I have eliminated about half of my speech schedule. My eldest daughter and son are away from home in college, but my 14-year-old daughter wants me to read to her before bedtime or watch a tennis tournament. Opportunities like these are fast disappearing. I thought that I had better cherish what I have and spend a little more time with my family.

NL: As a motivational speaker, how do you motivate yourself?

Li: One can find motivation everywhere. When I ran into trouble in performing arts or lost my motivation, I watched videos of Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. I was not watching how they dance, but about how they became such top-notched dancers and what kind of mindset they possessed. Their paths to success must not have been an easy one. I would read the story of Mandela, watch a movie of Gandhi, and go to one of Yo-Yo Ma’s concerts. Sometimes, a choreographer said something which could also inspire me. At times, I thought of the hardships my parents had in China; they were so poor that they sacrificed everything for their seven sons to survive.  All these gave me motivation. In the West, no matter how difficult it is it cannot be compared with what I experienced before.

NL: For Chinese immigrants, do you think that success in Australia can only come from an education in Australia?

Li: I believe that an Australia education and environment are only the opportunities from one aspect. For me, the living conditions my parents provided for me, the training at the Beijing Dance School and my chance to dance in America all contributed to my success. The most important are my mind, my mental state, my thoughts, my fighting spirit and positive attitude. Once when I was interviewed by the “New York Times”, I was asked what portion of your success came from my talent and what from the opportunities I got respectively.”

I think that only 20-30% of my success comes from training and education. The rest depends solely on me.  It was my own struggle which created a condition, and my success brought confidence and my next goal.  It is not that I am very successful, and now I can relax; once you feel that you are smart and better than others, you will become stagnant.

I feel that education is too broad a term. The day I graduated was the beginning of my education. I have learned from others’ remarks, the opportunities in front of me or the difficulties that I encountered. I believe that one should learn until the last minute of one’s life.  Only by doing so, one can move forward step by step. 

My whole life I have performed more than 2000 times. Many people commented that this time was better than the last time. I feel that after my hard work, this time is better than any other shows, even if I made only a small progress. I know that I am continuously moving forward and not backward. I would like to add that when talking about education, people think that school is education. However, I told myself that my education started on the day I graduated; my thoughts were very open and I learned something from many occasions.

NL: When you were in your most difficult moment, how did you keep your optimism?

Li: In 1985, I participated in the third International Ballet Competition.  The previous two were in Japan and America in which I won silver medals.  After the competition, many judges of the competition advised me to participate in the Moscow competition as a solo dancer to try for a gold medal.”

I was listed as the number one dancer internationally when I went to Moscow.  Unfortunately I fell during rehearsal, the Russian doctor advised me not to dance, but I could not let the Chinese and American audience down.  I got a bronze in that competition. No one knew that I could not even tie my own shoelaces and got through my competition only with the help of painkillers. 

After I came back to America, I was diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation. The doctor advised me not to dance again if I wanted to walk normally.

When I was lying on the hospital bed for three months, what hurt me most was not the gold medal that I failed to receive, but what the doctor said - my dance career was over.  I did not know what else I could do and my dream was shattered. After a while I started to read motivation books and watch the videos of champion tennis players to build my confidence bit by bit. Every day I reminded myself not to give up hope.

After three months, I finally was able to get out of bed, but all my muscles were loose. I could only go to the bathroom, take a shower and massage myself.  The muscles on my legs and waist had all disappeared. I told myself, “If I can build my muscles one by one, I would be stronger than I was before.”

When I was ready to get back on the stage, the doctor said, “Don’t do it!  You will regret it for the rest of your life.”  It was extremely difficult to re-train my muscles and many times I got so discouraged and was ready to quit. 

At the end, I danced for another 13 years and retired at 38.

NL: You are also very active in charitable activities. Your oldest daughter was born deaf, and you received the Father of the Year award for caring for your daughter. What do you think is the attitude of the Chinese in Australia towards charity?

Li: The Chinese do not pay much attention towards disabilities. It may have something to do with Chinese history.  Our ancestors worked very hard for their children. Having a good education and having a good career becomes very important to them.

Westerners pay more attention to helping others because their education is broader and covers many aspects.  Therefore, I told my children, “Never forget others.”  When you have the ability to help others and change others’ lives, it is very gratifying.  That is why I do my best to help deaf children and sometimes I also help the Royal Flying Doctor Service, breast cancer, AIDS or getting kids off the streets.

My wife was very curious about just how much money I have helped to raise for charitable organizations.  She said that it was a few million.  I am quite happy about it. Even if I die tomorrow, I have nothing to regret because I have not lived a selfish life.

I feel that we live in a society and receive plenty from it. It is our responsibility to repay if the opportunity comes. I cannot possibly live in a vacuum and a person’s growing up and success link closely to everyone around him/her.  In fact, everything you do has a close connection to the entire society.

Thus, in order to live a more fulfilled life, I believe that we need to think of others and to help others-starting from a young age, particularly.

NL: As the recipient of the "Shepherd Centre Australian Father of the Year", what advice do you have for the Chinese parents?

Li: Love your children unconditionally. I feel that the Chinese parents love their children under certain terms, such as you must go to this university, have certain kind of occupation. Being brought up with such a requirement, a child may become a doctor, but he may not respect his profession. Parents who really love their children should motivate their children, guide them to set a higher goal but not to limit their potential. 

Personally, I don’t care what my children do for a living as long as they are happy and do what they love.  They can be a teacher or a janitor. No matter what they do, I expect them to do their best and do a good job.

Source from New Land Magazine