li, zhongmei

Traces the life and journey of Zhongmei Lei, whose name means Faithful Plum, from her life as a poor country girl to the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy to founding her own dance company. Includes full-color and black-and-white photographs.

Narrates the story of how a young dancer from rural China was admitted to the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy and through hard work and perserverance went on to become one of the most famous dancers in China.

Tells the true story of Zhongmei Lei, an eleven-year-old girl in 1977 who won one of twelve spots at the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy, and whose determination to remain in the school impressed teachers and students alike; and discusses how Zhongmei, whose name means Faithful Plum, went on to form her own dance company which debuted in New York when she was in her late twenties.