This blog was developed as a resource for teachers who are looking to incorporate high quality and award winning trade books into their social studies curriculum. I have compiled and cited various reviews on these books, and additionally have listed online resources that will help teachers use these books for instructional purposes.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Mao's Last Dancer
Mao's Last Dancer
Written by: Li Cunxin
"At the age of eleven, Li Cunxin was one of the privileged few selected to serve in Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution by studying at the Beijing Dance Academy. Having known bitter poverty in his rural China home, ballet would be his family’s best chance for a better future. From one hardship to another, Cunxin demonstrated perseverance and an appetite for success that led him to be chosen as one of the first two people to leave Mao’s China and go to American to dance on a special cultural exchange. But life in the U.S. was nothing like his communist indoctrination had led him to believe. Ultimately, he defected to the west in a dramatic media storm, and went on to dance with the Houston Ballet for sixteen years.
This inspiring story of passion, resilience, and a family’s love captures the harsh reality of life in Mao’s communist China and the exciting world of professional dance. This compelling memoir includes photos documenting Li’s extraordinary life."
Publishers Synopsis
Online Resources:
http://www.licunxin.com/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment