Mary Li
Mary Li (formerly Mary McKendry) grew up in Rockhampton, Queensland and is the third of eight kids.
She was first introduced to the ballet by Valeria Hansen, her teacher. She got accepted into the Royal Ballet School when she was 16. In 1977, she joined the London Festival Ballet (English National Ballet) and got promoted through the ranks up to principal dancer in 1981. Then in 1985 she joined the Houston Ballet as one of their principal dancers.
She married Li Cunxin in 1987, and they have three children (Sophie, 1988; Thomas, 1992; and Bridie, 1997) together.
Mary’s Last Dance: The untold story of the wife of Mao’s Last Dancer is the highly anticipated memoir of Mary Li (Australian ballerina), and is the long awaited sequel to
Mao’s Last Dancer, her husband’s memoir.
This is a powerful and uplifting memoir about chasing this impossible dream, and sacrificing one’s own ambitions for the love of a child. It is an unforgettable and moving tale of dedication, passion, and devotion.
Mary Li is an international ballet star and a mom like no other. She became a household name once Li Cunxin (her husband) published his bestselling memoir, however that book just told half of that story.
Growing up in a rambunctious family in Rockhampton, Mary found an extraordinary passion early on for ballet. It saw her move to London when she was 16, to study at the Royal Ballet School and dance at the London Festival Ballet with the likes of Nureyev, and later on to Houston Ballet, where as Principal Dancer she fell in love with Li Cunxin, an acclaimed dancer. This couple became darlings of the dance world, and were far happier than they could’ve imagined at the arrival of Sophie, their first born daughter.
Then, right when she was at the height of her international career, she apparently vanished from view. What could possibly have happened to cause a woman so talented, so committed, to just give all of it away in just a heartbeat? Now, all this time later, we discover what happened next to such an inspiring family, and why it is Mary’s turn to tell such a truly remarkable story.
Millions of readers fell in love with Li’s story, and now here is Mary’s story at long last.
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Mary Li: F.A.Q
What was the first book Mary Li wrote?
The first book written by Mary Li was Mary’s Last Dance, published in 2020.
What was the most recent book Mary Li wrote?
Her most recently released work was Mary’s Last Dance on November 3rd, 2020.
Will there be any more books by Mary Li?
Mary Li does not have any upcoming books with a set publication date within the next few months at this time.
How many books has Mary Li written?
Mary Li has written 1 book. All of her books are Non-Fiction Books.