Li Cunxin AO to receive Prix de Lausanne Lifetime Achievement Award

Every year since 2017, the Prix de Lausanne has been giving an Award to a dancer or a choreographer who has made a strong and significant contribution to the dance world. Beyond the anecdotal statuette for this Award, the main purpose is to highlight the careers of personalities and artists likely to inspire both young talents in the competition as well as accomplished dancers gravitating around the Prix de Lausanne.

For its 2025 edition, the Prix de Lausanne is proud to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Li Cunxin AO, in recognition of his exceptional career.

The ceremony will take place during the Interlude of the Prix de Lausanne Finals on Saturday, 8 February 2025. The full event will be live streamed.

Born into extreme poverty in Mao’s China, Li was selected at a young age to train at the Beijing Dance Academy. His seven years of harsh training made him one of the best dancers in the world. He then made a career transitioning from dance to finance, Li excelled as a senior manager in one of Australia’s largest stockbroking firms. He then returned to dance and became Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet which transformed the company from a small regional ballet company into a globally recognised institution.

Li has received numerous prestigious honours and awards. Li’s autobiography, Mao’s Last Dancer, became an international bestseller and was adapted into a blockbuster film. Li’s inspirational story is an example of overcoming adversity and achieving excellence in life.

Li’s contributions to ballet and the arts have been recognised with numerous awards, including being named the Queen’s Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his service to the performing arts. His life is a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence.

This year’s Prix de Lausanne is taking place 2-9 February. To learn more, visit https://www.prixdelausanne.org/

Li Cunxin AO, photo by David Kelly